Dassault Falcon 7X

The Falcon 7X ( originally called Falcon FNX ) is the newest member of the Falcon series of business jets, the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The 7X is the largest, fastest and widest reaching aircraft of the company and positioned as a competitor to the Gulfstream G550 Gulfstream Aerospace and Global Express XRS Bombardier. The first flight of the model was carried out on 5 May 2005 and 27 April 2007, the first machine was handed over to a customer. With the predecessors of the Falcon 7X the series does not have much in common, but there is a substantial redesign. The new technical features include in particular a fly-by- wire control system and the complete computerized development.

History

The 7X project was presented at the Paris Air Show 2001 still under the preliminary development designation Falcon FNX the public. In October of the same year Dassault christened the new aircraft to the final name Falcon 7X. On 15 February 2005, finally, the rollout of the first prototype took place, and on 5 May of the same year raised the first prototype of the pilot Yves Kerherve and Philippe Deleume for 96 minutes for the first time from Bordeaux-Merignac airport from. Exactly one month later already picked up the second prototype in Merignac, shortly before June 15 moved a 7X for the Paris Air Show Le Bourget after. The approval in the U.S. by the FAA and EASA for Europe followed on April 27, 2007. A total of four machines for flight test and certification program were used. On 15 June 2007, the first machine was delivered. By end 2009, Dassault has seen more than 250 orders. Was on May 4, 2010 at the EBACE the 75th Falcon 7X to Saudia Private Aviation (SPA) - a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Airlines and largest 7X operators - passed. To reach the breakeven point, Dassault must sell at least 300 machines.

After an incident on 25 May 2011 during the flight of a machine from Germany to Kuala Lumpur, in which the destination airport by an automatically triggered tail-heavy trim reared up the machine during the approach strongly, but still could be safely landed the aircraft of this type was for some weeks, the flight permission by EASA withdrawn. The cause of a production error was found in one of the two tail control units ( HSECU ), which were replaced as part of a Umrüstaktion.

On 9 July 2012, the 200th machine was manufactured in the factory Bordeaux -Merignac. At this time, 150 pieces were already handed over to customers in 32 countries worldwide and 50 pieces were located at Innenraumaustattungsarbeiten. The 150 already flying machines had completed 130,000 flight hours by then.

Technology

Wings

The Falcon 7X has - as usual in civil aviation for decades - a low-wing design on. After the wings of the Falcon 50 - the first civilian supercritical wing at all - had been so successful that they have been adopted for the Falcon 900 and 2000 almost unchanged, the 7X was completely newly developed wings again. On the one hand, the sweep was significantly increased and on the other hand increased the aspect ratio of 7.6 to 9.72. For the latter but afford the Blended Winglets a below-average contribution because they came only in the course of development time. It would have been possible to increase the aspect ratio and the efficiency by increasing the winglet further, it would, however, an enhancement of the wing structure made ​​necessary because of the subsequent scheduling, reducing the weight and the development time would have increased substantially. The wings have already as the wings of the Falcon 50, a bend in the blade leading edge. Both Pfeilungen were compared to the initial design significantly increased by increments of 5 °, the inner sweep now 34 ° and the outer sweep is 30 °. Both the increased stretching as well as the higher sweep reduce induced drag, thus allowing higher speeds and efficiency. Also the efficiency contributes the improved profile of the wing, at the root thick, but in the end are now thinner. By the bend in the wing leading edge slats ( slats ) over the entire span slotted flaps ( slotted flaps ) and increased by 44% wing area - what has been achieved despite the high reached stretching - could lift at low speeds are significantly increased. This is to the good slow flight, take-off and landing characteristics of the previous Falcons can be preserved. Dassault himself describes the new wing as the most important innovation in the Falcon series for 30 years. Overall, the wings by 30% to be more efficient than the previous model, which is why the same design to be used in future Falcon models.

Engines

Dassault has the unique business aircraft design introduced with the Falcon 50 in the 1970s as three burners and this tradition has since with every new top model - in the 1980s, the Falcon 900 and now the Falcon 7X - continued. The mean engine is designed as a so-called S -duct, wherein the air inlet is located centrally above the fuselage, and then an S-shape to the in- fuselage tail engine operates.

As a Dassault Falcon introduced in the 1970s, 50, was for twin aircraft nor the 60 -minute rule, after which they can reach an airport in the event of an engine failure within 60 minutes had, during all such restrictions had already been suspended for three burners. These severe restrictions on flights across the Atlantic and even more for flights over the Pacific were increasingly loosened from the 1970s, initially systematically on the basis of Ausnahmsregelungen and from 1985 with the introduction of ETOPS rules. Today these restrictions only on the ultra - long-haul flights across the Pacific a roll, the FAA, in contrast to EASA business aircraft generally excludes from the ETOPS restrictions. Nevertheless, three radiators have still advantages, be it the slightly higher safety, shorter takeoff distances under hot- and- high conditions or better climbing performance. On the other hand, the weight and the fuel consumption tends to be higher, and the third power unit provides an additional maintenance dar.

When 7X come three turbofan engines of the type PW307A Pratt & Whitney Canada - a subsidiary of the U.S. company Pratt & Whitney - apply ( 6,402 lbf ) each provide the 28.48 kN thrust. This can be achieved 0.90 in horizontal flight a speed of Mach, which corresponds to about 970 km / h. In the rail tilt flight a speed of Mach 0.93 was achieved during the flight tests. The typical cruising speed of Mach 0.85, the long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.80. In the latter ( three crew, eight guests ) under IFR reserves according to the National Business Aviation Association ( NBAA ) has a range of 11,020 km ( 5,950 nm) can be achieved with eleven people on board. Originally a approximately 460 km (250 nm) lower reach would have to be achieved, however, by the subsequent scheduling of winglets and additional fuel tanks, the range could be increased. With the very high speeds Dassault includes the Spitzenreiteren in this area - the Cessna Citation X and Gulfstream G650 - on. However, both competing models are not directly comparable, as the Citation X in terms of range and size located several classes deeper and the G650 is still in development. If the range is the 7X has narrowly beaten only the Gulfstream G550 and Bombardier Global XRS. The upcoming G650 is expected to exceed by nearly 2000 km the 7X, however.

Each of the three engines is supplied by a separate set of fuel tanks. The capacity of the two outer sets is identical, while the inner bit more fuel summarizes the APU (see below) to provide. The total fuel capacity is around 14,500 kg, which is about 1360 kg more than was intended for the original scheduled lower reach. Each of the three sets of fuel tanks has two of a brushless DC motor driven pump, wherein a pump is in each case a reserve for the failure of the other pump.

Electricity and hydraulic

For the on-board power associated with each power unit, a brushless DC generator. To the engines do not run fuel- intensive to have on the ground and to be not dependent on an external power supply, all 7X also feature an APU ( Auxiliary Power Unit, APU ) of type GTCP 36 - 150F2M of Honeywell International. Due to the high dependence of the fly-by -wire controls from the power supply (see below) has the 7X over several emergency power supplies. At the engines 1 and 2 in addition to the main generators is each still a permanently excited DC generator as an emergency power source and two lead-acid batteries available. As the first business jet from Dassault 7X which has a Ram Air Turbine (RAT ) that would provide the most important functions of the aircraft with the loss of all five current generators.

The hydraulic system of the 7X is in contrast to earlier aircraft of the Falcon series of three cycles, called A, B and C is driven every cycle of an engine driven pump and for emergencies is a fourth ( electrically operated ) pump. The main pumps generate a pressure of 3000 psi, respectively, the emergency pump of a 2,800 psi. The hydraulic fluid used is of type MIL -H - No 5606.

Cabin

The cabin of the 7X has the fuselage cross-section, the Dassault introduced the Falcon 900 and also used for the Falcon 2000. The height of 1.88 m corresponds to continuous standing height and the width of 2.35 m is one of the largest among the business aircraft. The cabin length has been stretched over the Falcon 900 by about 1.8 m to 11.91 m. The enclosure volume is 43.96 m3 and is supplemented by a further 4.4 m3 of space for luggage. May be transported in close seating up to 19 people, but common, depending on the operator no more than eight to fourteen people. The cabin pressure is normalized to that which prevails in 6,000 feet ( 1,830 m) altitude, so that the height of equivalence is a quarter below normal in the introduction of the Falcon in the industry level. Further, the cabin is provided with a three-zone air conditioning system, the cockpit, the front and the rear part of the cab constitute a respective zone. Compared to the Falcon 900 the number of windows is increased from 12 to 14, wherein the window area increased by 40% due to larger windows. In addition, the windows were positioned slightly higher in the fuselage, which should enable a better view. Compared to the Falcon 900 could be significantly reduced due to quieter engines and improved noise reduction, the noise level of 4 dB SIL 50 to 52 dB SIL, which corresponds to a decibel reduction of about 50% due to the logarithmic scale of the unit. According to NetJets 7X which has the quietest cabin in all long-haul jets. Depending on the customer one or two toilets and a kitchen can be installed. The necessary connections (especially for water) are both at the end and at the beginning of the cabin. The size of the aircraft allows it to provide a separate relaxation area for the crew.

The actual interior is made individually for each client and can be carried out at third party. The largest operator, Saudia Private Aviation, let his 7X Jet Aviation in Basel equip. The interior and the paint for NetJets Europe was designed by Norman Foster and at EBACE 2009 in Geneva presented Dassault a new interior before, the BMW Group DesignworksUSA - was designed - a subsidiary of BMW.

Cockpit and avionics

The 7X is the first business jet, complete with fly-by -wire technology (FBW ) whose control. The FBW system of the 7X does not allow maneuvers that would endanger the aircraft ( for example, by a stall ), resulting in an increased safety results. The fully digital system also performs tasks that previously had to go through the pilot to be done manually, such as the trim, so that their workload decreases. Compared to the well -controlled with FBW models of Airbus, the system of 7X allows for increased maneuverability. Specifically allows programming a load of up to 3.5 g instead of 2.5 g at Airbus aircraft and the Airbus limited to a maximum of 15 ° / s roll rate is limited in the 7X only by the aerodynamics. Other restrictions that defines the FBW, are a maximum angle of 45 ° -20 °, respectively.

The cockpit is equipped with the avionics suite EASy which was jointly developed by Dassault and Honeywell based on the Honeywell Primus II Epic and is used in all current business jet from Dassault. For the future, the two companies are currently developing the successor EASy EASy second central element of the four -color active - matrix liquid crystal display with a diagonal of 16.4 in 42 cm respectively. The two pilots is in each case one of these displays as a so-called Primary Flight Display ( PFD) available, which mainly serves as flight data for " tactical " information. The other two displays, called multi-function displays are centered over each other and make "strategic " information such as the flight route represents the pilots also benefit from the FBW system that, not only relieves of individual tasks that are now performed automatically, but it disappear, the classic control horns. The control inputs are made now has two - those for the pilot on the left and that for the copilot's right - so-called side-sticks, a kind of joystick. Of these, the control commands are sent to the flight computer, and further transmitted to the control surfaces. This no longer be moved by mechanically operated hydraulic, but brushless DC motors.

The heart of the FBW system of the 7X are three two-channel digital flight computer ( Main Flight Computer, MFC ), of which only one is needed for normal flight operations. In the event of failure of the second and finally the third MFC MFC would take over. Would fail all three MFC, the flight control of three digital Einkanalflugcomputern (Secondary Flight Computer, SFC) would be taken that monitor each other. Would fail and the SFC, is still a last backup computer available, with which the aircraft could be still controlled safely. In the case that even this would fail, the 7X could eventually be controlled manually.

To Avionikaustattung Included is a doubly out blank Flight Management System (FMS ), a two-fold out blank Inertial Navigation System, two 24 -channel GPS receiver, a weather radar type Primus 880, the new generation of ground collision warning system (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System EGPWS ) and a radar altimeter. In addition, four redundant flight data computer, and four accompanying Smart Probe sensors are installed. This externally supplied by Goodrich sensors measure angle of attack, sideslip angle, static pressure and pitot pressure. Along with also four temperature sensors, the flight data computers can be calculated therefrom all other relevant data such as altitude and speed. Optionally also a satellite communication system is available. Also optionally available are head-up display ( HUD) for the cockpit crew from Rockwell Collins.

Production

On the construction of the 7X a variety of suppliers are involved, some of which not only specialized items, but entire fuselage segments finished. So comes the tailplane of EADS CASA, Latécoère delivers the tail piece of the fuselage, Socata is responsible for the upper fuselage center section and fuselage fairings responsible, Stork Fokker manufactures the control surfaces on the fuselage trailing edge, Finmeccanica and saffron provide through its subsidiaries Aermacchi respectively Aircelle nacelles and thrust reversers and to Saint-Gobain Sully was awarded the contract to build the cockpit and cabin windows. Saffron delivers to another subsidiary, Messier Dowty, the chassis and the brakes.

Dassault itself brings all his works in the production of the 7X. Thus, the wing lower and tops are manufactured in Seclin, while the wing assembly in Martignas -sur- Jalle done. The bow section of the hull is manufactured in Argenteuil, the assembly of the fuselage is done in Biarritz, Bordeaux Merignac final assembly of the machines. The interior is done exclusively in Dassault plant in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, unless the customer has not elected its own interior decorator (see also above).

Especially on the production of the 7X is particularly the completely paperless development developed by Dassault CATIA CAD program itself. This allowed an earlier and better integration of suppliers, a complete renunciation of paper and a reduction of the required models. Another peculiarity is the production of the fuselage middle into two halves instead of the usual tubular shape. This allows on the one hand the award of the simpler upper half to a supplier, while the production of the complex lower half remains with the tanks at Dassault, and on the other hand can so the work runs more efficient during installation. Dassault 's claim to have reduced the installation time of the 7X compared to a Falcon 900 by about 50 %.

User

Largest operator with four ordered 7X and three options is far Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Airlines. Another operator, NetJets Europe, has so far taken two machines. First state operator is the Russian state-owned airline Rossiya, a Falcon 7X operates in VIP configuration for the Russian government. Prince Albert II of Monaco has a Falcon 7X as the official aircraft of the royal family.

Comparable aircraft

Direct competitors of the 7X are only the Gulfstream G550 Gulfstream Aerospace and the Global Express XRS Bombardier, which both offer a similar space, a similar speed and a similar range. Indirect competitors are derived cheaper models Gulfstream G500 and Bombardier Global 5000 that achieve significantly lower ranges for the same space. Reach and space in the same league as the 7X also plays the Gulfstream V, but which is now no longer produced. There are also a number of distant indirect competitors like although similarly large, but high-reach and slower Legacy 650 by Embraer, the upcoming Gulfstream G650, which exceeds more or less clearly the 7X in range, speed and space, which is very large, but still quite high-reach and slower Embraer Lineage 1000 or the once larger and with a similar range to the 7X -equipped Boeing 737 Business Jet and Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner.

Specifications

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