Virtually eliminating prototypes

IBM PLM Solutions developed by Dassault Systèmes have enabled Dassault Aviation to meet the challenges of the executive business jet market with a new virtual platform.

French company Dassault Aviation was founded in 1936, and currently has about 9000 employees in more than 70 countries across five continents, and 2004 sales of €3.46 billion. Dassault Aviation competes in the executive aircraft market with business jets from the Falcon series, and in the military aircraft market with fighter jets such as the Mirage and Rafale. The Falcon division represents about 61% of the company's business.

On May 5, 2005, at Dassault Aviation's facility in Bordeaux Mérignac, France, Falcon 7X s/n 1 took to the skies for the first time, and the flight was a success. The Falcon 7X carried the registration numbers of F-WFBW to remind those watching that this is the first business jet designed with a Fly-By-Wire flight control system. The first public flight was at the Paris Air Show on June 13th.