Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Dassault Aviation announced today that it has joined the Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW307D engines, wings and fuselage of the first Falcon 8X, paving the way for initial power-on and the start of ground tests. First electrical power-on is expected at the end of this month, in line with the production and test schedule. Dassault expects to fly the 8X trijet early next year, with certification slated for mid-2016 and initial deliveries anticipated by the end of 2016.


The first 8X fuselage was built at Dassault Aviation’s facility in Biarritz, France, and arrived at the company’s main assembly plant in Mérignac in May. Last month the 8X wing arrived from Martignas and was mated to the fuselage and empennage. The 8X’s airfoil features Dassault’s proprietary “piano junction” design, “which gives Falcons advantages in aerodynamic efficiency, robustness and ease of maintenance and reparability,” according to the company.


Dassult’s Falcon 5X is also expected to be ready for ground tests in the coming months. The fuselage for the first aircraft arrived in Mérignac last month and will be mated to the empennage by month’s end. The 5X twinjet is scheduled to fly in the first half of next year and enter service in 2017.

Dassault Readies To Begin Falcon 8X Ground Tests

Dassault expects to fly the new trijet early next year, with certification slated for mid-2016.

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