Business & GA

Dassault has completed ultimate load testing and 16 months of static and fatigue trials on the 7X ultra-long-range business jet. Testing began in March 2005, two months before the 7X made its first flight. Both the static and fatigue testing is being undertaken at CEAT in Toulouse with one test article, marking a first for a Dassault civil aircraft, says the company.

Dassault adds that the 7X airframe was subjected to twice the design life of the airframe or 40,000 simulated cycles. "The test article reached 150% of design limit load on the wings, cabin and fuel tank as specified by the US and European certification authorities. The aircraft wings bent 8ft 2in [2.5m] as measured at the wing tips at 150% design limit load," it says.