Dubai Airshow 2021 is set to kick off on November 14. It will be running till November 18 which will see many airlines, countries, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation tech companies participating to showcase their latest products and services. Dassault Aviation’s Rafale C combat aircraft and Falcon 8X Business Jet are going to be at static display for the event every day.
The aircraft will be presented by the French Air and Space Force, which operates a detachment of Rafales at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE. Dassault Aviation has been a partner of the United Arab Emirates Air Force since the Mirage 5 era in the 1970s. The UAEAF currently operates a fleet of Mirage 2000-9s, which are in the process of being modernised with Dassault’s support.
The Dubai Airshow will also be an opportunity for the company to promote its new Falcon 6X and Falcon 10X ultra widebody business aircraft. A full-scale model of the Falcon 6X cabin will be on display in the static park. The Falcon 6X, with a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 km), is the most spacious, modern and versatile twin-engine aircraft in its class. Three aircraft are currently in flight testing. Certification testing of the 6X’s new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engine was recently completed. The 6X is scheduled to enter service in late 2022.
The Falcon 10X, which was presented around the world in a virtual unveiling on May 6, 2020, will offer a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 km), enabling it to fly non-stop from the Gulf to any destination in Asia, Australia/New Zealand or the U.S. West Coast. It will fly at a top speed of Mach 0.925. The 10X will feature a cabin 6-feet, 8-inches (2.03 m) high and 9-feet, 1-inch (2.77 m) wide - larger than some new regional jets. It is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2025.
