Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer and songwriter.
According to Forbes, she has a net worth of $1.6 billion, and her five-continent era tour generated a sensational $1.1 billion in revenue.
Taylor Swift rose to fame in 2006 after signing to Big Machine Records in 2005. She was initially well-known for producing country music. In 2014, she took a detour and produced her first full pop music album titled1989.
Swift currently owns the Dassault Falcon 7X, which we will look into in more detail later in this article. However, she isn’t a first-time Dassault customer.
She previously owned a Dassault Falcon 900 and a Dassault Falcon 50.
The Dassault Falcon 900 was purchased in 2011 for $40 million, later sold in January 2024. Her Dassault Falcon 50 was purchased in 2012 for $4 million. She sold the Dassault Falcon 50 in March 2020, with all the proceeds from the sale going to charity.
Overview of the Dassault Falcon 7X
The Dassault Falcon 7X was introduced for sale to the business jet market in 2007. At the time, it was the second most popular Dassault business jet. It was developed from the Dassault Falcon 900, a twinjet model.
The Falcon 7X is unique to the market due to its three engines; by 2020, 289 units of the Falcon 7X had been produced. It is classified as an ultra-long-range business jet, and its primary competitors are the Gulfstream G550 and Bombardier Global Express.
As mentioned above, the Falcon 7X was based on the Falcon 900 and had significant improvements. Some of the key design and engineering innovations were:
- New high-speed wing: This improved efficiency and aerodynamic performance.
- Longer fuselage: This allowed for more cabin space.
- Curved windshield: This design feature improved pilot visibility.
- Engine Changes: The Falcon 900 had the Honeywell FX5 engines, and the Falcon 7X engines were replaced with Pratt & Whitney Canada PWC307A turbofans.
- Structural Improvements: The aircraft’s structure was adapted to reduce weight and production costs.
The Dassault Falcon 7X harmonizes sleek design and ultimate performance with attractive operating costs.
Four Features on the Falcon 7X that made it a popular jet for business aviation
Trijet configuration
Dassault was the first private jet manufacturer to introduce the trijet configuration to the private aviation sector. The French manufacturer equipped the Falcon 7X with three Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307A engines. The advantages of the three engines were:
The PW300 family has four engine series, the second most powerful of which is the PW307. Below is a table comparing all four engines.
| Engines | Thermodynamic Thrust Class | Mechanical Thrust Class | Height | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PW308 Series | 8,350 lb (37,150 N) | 7,000 SHP (5,220 kW) | 50 in (127 cm) | 46 in (117 cm) | 84 in (213 cm) |
| PW307 Series | 7,500 lb (33,360 N) | 6,400 SHP (4,775 kW) | 47 in (119 cm) | 41 in (104 cm) | 86 in (218 cm) |
| PW306 Series | 7,000 lb (31,140 N) | 6,000 SHP (4,475 kW) | 45 in (114 cm) | 38 in (97 cm) | 76 in (193 cm) |
| PW305 Series | 5,900 lb (26,240 N) | 4,700 SHP (3,505 kW) | 45 in (114 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | 81 in (206 cm) |
Fly-by-wire system
The Falcon 7X has a fully digital fly-by-wire control system. The fly-by-wire control system allows for:
- Accurate control: this reduces pilots’ workload and enhances the journey’s overall safety.
- Smoother travel: the system compensates for turbulence, allowing passengers a more comfortable journey.
High-swept wing design
The Dassault Falcon 7X has a high-swept wing with winglets. A swept wing is a wing swept backward (occasionally forwards) by a certain angle. For the Dassault Falcon 7X, the wings are swept backward by 34.5 degrees. This provides for more longitudinal stability as the center of gravity and the aerodynamic center of the wing are closer to the longitudinal balance.
Winglets on the wings are intended to improve aircraft efficiency by reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency.
Avionics suite
The Dassault Falcon 7X has the Honeywell Primus Epic Enhanced Avionics System (EASy). The EAS comes with an Intuitive Interface, which provides pilots with clear and thorough flight information and enhanced safety features such as ground proximity warning and turbulence detection.
Performance specifications of the Dassault 7X in comparison to its competitors
The Dassault 7X had two main competitors, the Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream G550. Below is a table comparing the specifications of all three aircraft.
From the table above, it can be seen that the Dassault Falcon 7X has the shortest range, at 5,950 NM, in comparison to its competitors, with the Bombardier Global Express having a range of 6,050 NM and the Gulfstream G550 having a range of 6,750 NM. This would make the Gulfstream G550 the best aircraft for ultra-long-range travel; however, due to its tri-engine configuration, the Falcon 7X would be the best option from a fuel efficiency standpoint.
Thanks to the three engines, the Dassault Falcon 7X is the fastest, reaching 516 knots. The G550 is the slowest of the three but has been optimized for long-haul flights.
All the jets have a service ceiling of 51,000 ft, meaning they can fly higher than most commercial aircraft air traffic.
Interior and Comfort Features for the Dassault Falcon 7X
The Falcon 7X cabin has a large interior, as mentioned earlier, these are the dimensions for the cabin of this business jet:
- Length: 39.1 ft (11.91 m)
- Height: 6.2 ft (1.88 m)
- Width: 7.7 ft (2.34 m)
This configuration can hold up to 16 passengers. There is also plenty of storage space, 140 cubic feet (4 cubic meters) for luggage and equipment. The cabin has features to enhance passenger comfort, such as having engine mounts and other soundproofing technology that keep noise levels below 50 dBA, which is the same volume as a conversation, or having some background music on.
Clients purchasing the Falcon 7X can customize it to their desire.
They can choose the decor in the cabin, such as furniture, partitions, and trim paneling. They can also select from various cabin equipment, such as fridges, bars, and audio systems.
