Dassault Aviation has officially unveiled the Falcon 6X, the successor to the company's ill-fated 5X project, which was abandoned in December due to persistent problems with the aircraft's Safran Silvercrest engines.

Billed as the most spacious, advanced and versatile twinjet in business aviation, the new aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight in early 2021 and begin deliveries in 2022. It will feature a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a maximum range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186km), longer than any other jet in its category.

The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engines, which feature the same core technology — but not the reduction gearbox — as the other members of the PurePower family. Dassault underlines that the PW800 is a proven design with 20,000 hours of testing under its belt — the engine has also been selected for Gulfstream's new G500 and G600 bizjets, currently in the process of certification.

Dassault says that the 6X will offer the largest, quietest and most comfortable cabin of any aircraft in its class and more cabin volume than any other Falcon ever designed. The 6X is largely based on the Falcon 5X aerodynamics and system features which were validated during the 5X preliminary flight test program. It has been optimized to take advantage of the new engine, offering a greater range and a 50cm-longer cabin.

The Falcon 6X cabin is 1.98m high and 2.58m wide — the highest and widest cross section in a purpose-built business jet – and is nearly 12.3m long (50cm more than the 5X). The cabin can accommodate 16 passengers in three distinct lounge areas, affording room for multiple configurations including a large entry way/crew rest area and a spacious rear lounge.

The cabin features 29 extra-large windows including a unique galley skylight – the first in business aviation – designed to provide additional brightness in an area usually devoid of natural light.

The new Falcon is equipped with an ultra-efficient wing that minimizes the impact of turbulence and a next-generation digital flight control system that controls all moving surfaces, including a novel control surface called a flaperon. The 6X is the first business jet to use a flaperon, which considerably improves control during approach, especially on steep descents.

The aircraft also comes with noise suppression systems, based on experience with the Falcon 8X, and an all-new cockpit and third-generation EASy III all-digital flight deck.

It will be delivered with a full package of equipment, including Dassault’s FalconSphere II electronic flight bag and the revolutionary FalconEye Combined Vision System – the first head up display to combine enhanced and synthetic vision capabilities.