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Dassault Falcon 7X

Dassault · Ultra-long-range Business Jet · France · Modern (1992–2009)

Dassault Falcon 7X — Ultra-long-range Business Jet
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The Dassault Falcon 7X is a French three-engine ultra-long-range business jet — Dassault's flagship business aircraft + the world's first business jet with fully digital fly-by-wire flight controls. Dassault designed the Falcon 7X in 2001-2005; the prototype first flew on 5 May 2005. About 320 Falcon 7Xs have been built between 2007 and 2024 at Bordeaux-Mérignac. The aircraft serves business + government VIP operators worldwide through 2026 — production has been refined to the Falcon 8X variant since 2016.

The Falcon 7X uses 3 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307A turbofan engines (6,400 lbf each). Maximum speed 953 km/h (Mach 0.90), range 11,000 km, service ceiling 15,545 m. Capacity: 12-14 passengers + 3 crew. The aircraft introduced fully digital fly-by-wire flight controls to business aviation (drawing from Dassault's Rafale fighter fly-by-wire design experience). The 7X's range allows non-stop flights from London to Singapore, Tokyo, or São Paulo — making it competitive with the largest Gulfstream + Bombardier flagship aircraft.

Falcon 7X service is concentrated in worldwide business + government VIP operators. Major operators include corporate flight departments, multiple government VIP fleets, and chartered VIP services worldwide. About 280 Falcon 7Xs remain in active service in 2026. The closely-related Falcon 8X entered production in 2016 as a stretched longer-range successor.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Dassault Falcon 7X is a French long-range business jet. It first flew in 2005 and entered service in 2007. The Falcon 7X is unusual among business jets because it has three engines — two on the sides and one on the tail (like a tiny Boeing 727).

The Falcon 7X is about 76 feet long — longer than two school buses. Three Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307A engines give it Mach 0.90 top speed and 5,950 nautical miles range — far enough to fly New York to Tokyo non-stop. The cabin holds 12-16 passengers in luxury seating.

The Falcon 7X was the first business jet built with fly-by-wire flight controls — meaning the pilot's stick and rudder pedals send electronic signals to a computer that flies the airplane. Most fighter jets have had fly-by-wire since the F-16 (1976), but business jets were slow to adopt it. The 7X proved the concept could work safely. Now most new big jets use fly-by-wire.

About 290 Falcon 7Xs have been delivered since 2007. The newer Falcon 8X (2016) is slightly longer with even-better engines, and the Falcon 6X (2023) is bigger again. Dassault is the only company building big trijet business jets — Boeing, Embraer, and Bombardier all use two engines instead. The trijet design gives the 7X better short-field performance, but costs more to maintain.

Fun Facts

  • The Falcon 7X has three engines — two on the sides and one on the tail.
  • About 290 Falcon 7Xs have been delivered since 2007.
  • Range 5,950 nautical miles — far enough to fly New York to Tokyo non-stop.
  • The Falcon 7X was the first business jet built with fly-by-wire flight controls.
  • Dassault is the only big-jet maker still building trijet business jets.
  • The cabin holds 12-16 passengers in luxury seating.
  • The Falcon family includes Falcon 7X, 8X, 6X, 2000, 50, and Falcon 20.

Kids’ Questions

Why three engines on a business jet?

Most modern business jets have two engines because they're cheaper to operate. But two-engine jets need long runways to take off if one engine fails. Three-engine jets can take off from much shorter runways even with one engine failed. This makes the Falcon 7X better at flying from small airports — including some in mountainous areas or developing countries. The trade-off: three engines cost more to maintain. Dassault is the only big-jet maker still betting on trijets — they like the short-runway advantage. Boeing, Bombardier, and Gulfstream all use twin-engine designs.

Who is Dassault?

Dassault Aviation is a French aerospace company. It builds fighter jets (Mirage 2000, Rafale) for the French military and business jets (Falcon family) for civilian customers. Dassault is one of only a few companies that build both military fighters and civilian jets — Boeing, Embraer, and Lockheed Martin are similar. Dassault was founded by Marcel Dassault in the 1930s and is still owned by the Dassault family today. The Falcon business jet line started in 1963 — over 2,500 Falcons have been built since then.

Variants

Falcon 7X (basic)
Standard production. About 320 built 2007-2024.

Notable Operators

Worldwide business + government VIP
~280 airframes in service worldwide. Multiple Fortune 500 corporate flight departments + major government VIP fleets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Falcon 7X the first fly-by-wire business jet?

Yes. The Falcon 7X (2007 service entry) was the first business jet with fully digital fly-by-wire flight controls — drawing from Dassault's Rafale fighter fly-by-wire design experience. Earlier business jets used conventional mechanical-cable + hydraulic flight controls. Subsequent fly-by-wire business jets (Gulfstream G500/G600, Bombardier Global 7500) followed the Falcon 7X by 5-10 years.

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