FLYING TIPS
This model is fairly easy to fly but reading this simple guide and familiarizing yourself with all the cockpit functions will enhance your flying experience.
GENERAL
The Dassault Falcon 7X is a French-built large-cabin, long range business jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the flagship of their business jet line. It is unusual in having an S-duct central engine, and is one of only two trijets currently in production, the other being the Dassault Falcon 900.
Characteristics
* Crew: Three (pilot/co-pilot & 1 cabin crew)
* Capacity: Up to 12 passengers (not including crew)
* Length: 23.19 m (76 ft 1 in)
* Wingspan: 26.21 m (86 ft)
* Height: 7.863 m (25 ft 8 in)
* Empty weight: 15,456kg (34,072lb)
* Useful load: 15,843kg (34,928lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 31,299kg (69,000lb)
* Powerplant: 3 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307A turbofans
Performance
* Maximum speed: 953 km/h (515 kts TAS, 593 mph)
* Cruise speed: 900 km/h (486 kts TAS, 559mph)
* Range: 11,019km (5,950 nm) with 8 passengers
* Service ceiling: 15,545m (51,000 ft)
[FS model tested up to 50,000 ft]
PERFORMANCE NOTES:
(1) The indicated airspeed (IAS) is not the speed over the ground.
(We get lots of emails about this !)
Speed over the ground is shown on the GPS in knots. To convert knots to miles per hour (mph) add 15%
(2) Under the airspeed tape on the MFD is the Mach reading. Mach is the aircraft's speed in relation to the local speed of sound.
Mach 1.0 is the speed of sound and it varies according to air density and temperature.
** Mach 0.81 is the maximum cruising speed for this aircraft **
** Mach 0.90 is the "never exceed" speed for this aircraft **
Above 35,000 feet it is best to switch the speed hold on the autopilot to Mach reading to ensure you do not overspeed the airframe.
For example, in zero wind, flying at Mach 0.80 at 50,000 feet, the airspeed will show as approx 195 kts and the GPS will show 460 kts (530 mph). Ground speed may be more or may be less depending on wind speed and direction. With a strong tail wind the ground speed may be more than 600 mph but the IAS will still read 195 kts.
PANEL FAMILIARIZATION
Turn on tool tips.
The screens in the glass cockpit contain a lot of information, to fly the model correctly it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the panel and with the operation of the various pop-up screens.
The MFD (Multi Fuction Display), the EICAS (Engine instrument display), the Garmin GPS and the radio tuner all have enlarged pop-ups. The overhead panel contains fuel cut-off switches, pitot heating and various other electrical switches. Not all the buttons/switches on the overhead are functional.
A panel 'map' is enclosed in the Manuals folder.
STARTING ENGINES
The FS model will initialize with the engines running. To start the engines manually after a shut down you can use the auto start button or the individual start switches. The battery must be ON and the fuel shut-off valves (on overhead panel) must be open. After a manual start ensure that all three generators are switched on.
INITIAL FUEL LOAD
The Falcon 7X initializes in FS with fuel tanks full. It carries enough fuel for approx 6000 miles cruising so, unless you are planning a trans global flight, you need to reduce the fuel load before takeoff. For a journey of 1000 miles or less half full is more than enough.
TAKEOFF
For heavy takeoffs use 20º of flap and approx 4º (nose up) elevator trim. The flap and trim indicators are on the MFD. On the climb out after takeoff re-trim as necessary. Raise the undercarriage as soon as you establish your climb and have all flaps up at 170 kts IAS
AUTOPILOT
The autopilot is not very different from the default jets in FS9 and FSX. The only real difference is the vertical speed (VS) hold. Rotate the VS wheel up or down with your mouse, the vertical speed selected will show on the MFD next to the altitude readout. The purple bar shows the VS you have set, the green bar shows current VS.
TIP - If you hover your mouse over the VS wheel with tool tips ON the currently set vertical speed will be displayed.
Please note that the VS wheel only works with the autopilot, it is not a trim wheel. For trimmming when hand flying without autopilot either use the trim buttons on your stick/yoke, the trim keys on your numerical keypad, or move your mouse pointer next to the trim readout on the MFD, +/- signs will appear as tooltips.
HIGH ALTITUDE CLIMB
To reach very high altitudes you need to do what real airline pilots do and climb in 'steps', adjusting your rate of climb as you go up.
My suggestions for this model are:
Sea level to 10,000 ft ... 2,200-2,500 feet per minute
10,000 ft to 20,000 ft ... 1,800 feet per minute
20,000 ft to 30,000 ft ... 1,000 feet per minute
over 30,000 ft ... 500 feet per minute
APPROACH & LANDING
The book says that the Falcon 7X landing approach speed with full flaps (40º)is 104 kts IAS. This is possible with this model but an approach with 20º flaps at 115 kts is easier. The real plane has computer controlled automatic elevator trim but we can't model that in FS so a lot of trimming is needed on approach to keep the correct attitude on the glide slope.
*** Watch your sink rate ! *** A slow approach with lots of flap needs a high power setting.
SHUT DOWN
To stop the engines use the three fuel shut off valves on the overhead panel.
When the engines are stopped switch off the lights, pitot heating and avionics. Finally switch off the generators and battery. On the real plane the APU (Auxillary Power Unit) would be started to maintain essential electrical services, we have not modelled the APU function.
