Demo hops in Dassault's next-generation Falcon 7X trijet simulator,
prominently located in Booth 3683, are indeed rare, considering
the virtually non-stop line up of potential customers at NBAA.
They want to see the integration simulation of its EASy cockpit,
fly-by-wire control system and advanced HUD in a full visual simulator,
albeit one with no motion.
Tuesday afternoon, Show News had the opportunity to fly
the 7X simulator with Bill Kerherve, Dassault's veteran military
and civil flight test pilot, who discussed the overall cockpit
design concept. "Our first priority was improving safety.
We also wanted to make the aircraft easier to fly. With fly-by-wire,
aircraft behavior is always the same throughout the flight envelope,"
Kerherve explained. Other benefits include increased reliability
and redundancy, plus lower maintenance burden and slightly reduced
aircraft weight.
The Falcon 7X was designed from the start to be fitted with an
advanced Head-Up Display, featuring flight path vector and thrust
director guidance cues. We found the design to be highly intuitive,
requiring a minimum of pre-flight instruction by Kerherve. In
the 7X sim, the HUD symbology is projected onto the visual background
in front of the windshield cutouts.
Soon, we were rolling down simulated Runway 19R at KSFO. Using
the sidestick controller, we rotated on Kerherve's call-out. We
used the HUD's flight path vector and thrust director cues to
rotate to the appropriate pitch attitude for lift-off. As Kerherve
retracted the flaps and slats, the FBW control system automatically
changed pitch attitude to maintain a constant flight path vector.
The side-stick only needs to be handled if a pitch or roll attitude
change is required. Otherwise, the FBW system holds a constant
flight path vector.
But the system also has full envelope protection. It won't let you stall,
overspeed or overstress the aircraft. It also has maximum pitch-up
and roll limits. After experiencing the Dassault FBW system, flying
with conventional hydro-mechanical flight controls seems a little
long in the tooth.
After some maneuvering out by the Farallon Islands, we returned
for a visual approach into SFO. Altitude, speed and configuration
changes were a snap. All we had to do was to put the flight patch
vector symbol on the horizon to hold altitude or on a three-degree
glidepath to maintain an ideal descent to the runway. Let go of
the sidestick and the aircraft stayed right where we wanted it.
It was not unlike using control stick steering while the autopilot
is engaged.
Conclusion? The blend of HUD, FBW and EASy will make the Falcon
7X the safest, easiest business aircraft to fly ever built by Dassault.
Unfortunately, the HUD will be optional equipment, not included
in the basic aircraft certification program because of regulatory
requirements.
