Dassault Aviation and Hong Kong-based management firm HK Bellawings yesterday celebrated the first order in the region for the French manufacturer’s new Falcon 8X aircraft, which is making its ABACE debut this week. HK Bellawings (Booth P218) will manage the aircraft, which is slated to be delivered next year to a Chinese buyer.
The aircraft will become the second Falcon to join the HK Bellawings managed fleet. A 7X is expected to arrive in September. Established in 2014 to provide a full portfolio of management services for business aircraft owners in the area, HK Bellawings currently has six aircraft in its fleet, including a Gulfstream G650 that the company recently added. It also has contracts for at least three more aircraft, including an Embraer Lineage 1000E under a leasing agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing that was signed April 12.
Glen Reghenzani, director of flight operations for HK Bellawings, noted the 8X was well suited for the owner because it met the requirements for the customer’s short-field performance and range. The aircraft can take off fully loaded in 1,829 m (6,000 ft) and can land in 655 m (2,150 ft). The 8X also has a 11,950-km (6,450-nm) range at Mach 0.80, allowing nonstop flight from Beijing to New York, Hong Kong to London and Shanghai to Los Angeles.
Olivier Villa, senior vice president of civil aircraft for Dassault Aviation (Chalet 10), this week noted that the 8X was designed to accommodate the “needs of the Asia market.” As for its ABACE debut, the company brought serial number (S/N) 3 as part of a four-week worldwide flight demonstration tour as it approaches certification this summer.
