Dassault Aviation has handed over the first Falcon 8X to a customer, marking the entry into service of its new ultra-long-range flagship. Amjet Executive took delivery of the milestone trijet at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility earlier today, just two years after the program was announced. The 6,450-nm/11,945-km Falcon 8X—a stretch derivative of the 7X—was certified by EASA and the U.S. FAA in June.
Athens, Greece-based Amjet offers fleet management, charter, sales and maintenance/repair services and operates a fleet of Falcon jets, including the Falcon 50, 900EX EASy and 7X. Amjet president Abakar Manany, who is a pilot and was at the controls for the delivery flight, said the 8X has “remarkable handling and piloting qualities,” as well as “superb performance and cabin comfort.”
Further 8X deliveries are expected over the coming weeks to customers in Brazil, the U.S., Europe, the UAE and India, among others, according to Dassault. Another 11 of the flagship Falcons are in final assembly in Mérignac, and 16 are being outfitted and painted at Dassault’s completion facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.