Story ID: 
Third Falcon 7X Enters Flight Test
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: A third Falcon 7X, S/N 03, on Tuesday joined the flight-test program.
Word Count: 127
A third Falcon 7X, S/N 03, on Tuesday joined the flight-test program. It will be used primarily for avionics, systems, and function and reliability testing. On its first flight of one hour and 43 minutes, the trijet reached 41,000 feet and Mach 0.82, according to Dassault. With this flight, Dassault said the Falcon 7X test fleet has logged 171 hours in 60 sorties. About 1,200 flight-test hours are planned as part of the certification program. The aircraft’s fly-by-wire system “continues rigorous testing and responds with ease and precision to inputs,” according to Dassault. To date, test aircraft have performed landings and takeoffs at “maximum aft and maximum forward c.g., as well as maximum takeoff weight. Climbs to 48,000 feet and 3g maneuvers have also been performed.” Certification is expected late next year.