Dassault Falcon 8X: how 46 jets are really flown
Ocean crossings and short legs share one European Falcon 8X fleet. In the twelve months to 31 Jul 2026, 43 of 46 aircraft flew the Atlantic without a stop, 243 crossings in all. Yet its median leg was the shortest in a size group it shares with Bombardier Global 6000/6500, Dassault Falcon 7X, Gulfstream G650/G650ER and Bombardier Global 5000/5500. Long crossings can hide many short legs in an aircraft's hours, so read a used Falcon 8X's hours beside its landings.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 68% or more; the easier end near none.
For the easiest-used 5%, a short runway is rare: 4% of departures or fewer. At the harder end, 66% or more leave from one.
The hardest-worked 5% log 13 flights a month or more; the easiest-used, 4 or less. The middle aircraft sits at 6.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Falcon 8X flies 2.0 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 1.1 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Landings count against structural and landing-gear life limits, so an aircraft that lands often for its hours has used more of those limits. Ask for its landing count beside its hours, and check both against the airframe and landing-gear limits.
Middle half 1.6–2.4 : 1Harder end: 5% at 1.1 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 3.9 : 1 or more
Middle half 29–53%Harder end: 5% at 73% or moreEasier end: 5% at 19% or less
Middle half 293–544 nmLowest 5%: 196 nm or lessHighest 5%: 979 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 46 Falcon 8XsThe data behind it
Every measure for the 46 European Falcon 8Xs, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 2.0 : 1 | 1.6–2.4 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 36% | 29–53% |
| Leg length Median leg | 401 nm | 293–544 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Falcon 8X spends 2% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 56% or more of them there.
An aircraft at the high end spent many of its nights in salt air, within 2 km of the coast. Ask for its corrosion inspection findings and a record of where it spent its nights.
Middle half <1–7%Harder end: 5% at 56% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 9.7–11.5 hHarder end: 5% at 13.7 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 6.7 h or less
Middle half 7–22%Harder end: 5% at 34% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Salt air across the fleet
35 Falcon 8XsThe data behind it
Every measure for the 35 of the 46 European Falcon 8Xs with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Salt air Nights within 2 km of the coast | 2% | <1–7% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 7% | 2–16% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 10.3 h | 9.7–11.5 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 10% | 7–22% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 8.3 g/m³ | 7.4–9.0 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Falcon 8X leaves from a short runway on 16% of its departures. One in twenty does on 66% or more.
Each short-runway departure calls for more takeoff thrust, and landing at those same short fields works the brakes and tires harder. On an aircraft near the high end, read the engine trend records and the brake and tire history with its own share beside them.
Middle half 10–24%Harder end: 5% at 66% or moreEasier end: 5% at 4% or less
Middle half 0–1%Harder end: 5% at 4% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 503–1,211 ftHarder end: 5% at 1,633 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 66 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Runway margin at departure
2,757 departuresThe data behind it
Every measure for the 45 of the 46 European Falcon 8Xs with enough departures we could assess, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Short runways Departures where the longest runway was under 1.25× the takeoff distance | 16% | 10–24% |
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 0% | 0–1% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 799 ft | 503–1,211 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Falcon 8X made 6 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 13 or more, the quietest 4 or fewer.
On a busy aircraft, hours-based inspections come due sooner. A quiet one reaches its calendar inspections with little flying between them. Ask which inspections are next, and set the aircraft's own flights a month against the fleet median above.
Middle half 3.8–8.4Harder end: 5% at 13.9 or moreEasier end: 5% at 3.2 or less
Middle half 3.0–6.1Harder end: 5% at 8.0 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.4 or less
Middle half 111–211 hHarder end: 5% at ≈308 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈56 h or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Month by month
12 monthsMedian flights per aircraft that flew that month · darker bar is the busiest month, November 2025
The data behind it
Every measure for the 46 European Falcon 8Xs, every active aircraft (no 40% tracking floor here: on this type it would change which aircraft are compared, not just drop undercounted ones), 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 5.9 | 3.8–8.4 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 4.6 | 3.0–6.1 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈152 h | 111–211 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Falcon 8X?
See where your Falcon 8X sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 46 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Falcon 8Xs are based and fly
Paris-Le Bourget is home to more Falcon 8Xs than any other field, 6 of the 43 with a home base.
London City–Rotterdam The Hague is the busiest route: 109 flights by 4 different aircraft.
Where Falcon 8Xs are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Paris-Le Bourget | 6 | |
| Aeroport Geneve-Cointrin | 6 | |
| Rotterdam The Hague | 4 | |
| Nice Cote d'Azur | 3 | |
| Zurich | 3 | |
| Brussels | 2 |
Busiest Falcon 8X routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| London City ⇄ Rotterdam The Hague | 109 flights |
| Farnborough ⇄ Rotterdam The Hague | 64 |
| Bristol ⇄ Guernsey | 54 |
| Farnborough ⇄ Aeroport Geneve-Cointrin | 41 |
| Berlin Brandenburg ⇄ Munich | 39 |
| Nice Cote d'Azur ⇄ Paris-Le Bourget | 32 |
Longest Falcon 8X flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Farnborough → Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah | 5,716 nm · 13 h 01 min |
| Aeroport Geneve-Cointrin → Seletar | 5,663 nm · 12 h 04 min |
| Zurich → Seletar | 5,556 nm · 11 h 46 min |
| Munich → Seletar | 5,423 nm · 13 h 14 min |
| Nice Cote d'Azur → Aeródromo de Rosario | 5,404 nm · 13 h 16 min |
Busiest Falcon 8Xs this year
The busiest Falcon 8X made 16 flights a month, two times the middle aircraft.
Even the tenth on this list made 10.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Base | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G-KOLO | Guernsey | 16 | 244 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | D-AGBB | BRAUNSCHWEIG LBA | 15 | 407 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | OY-NEW | Farnborough | 14 | 382 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | D-AAND | Berlin Brandenburg | 13 | 215 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | VQ-BXG | Rotterdam The Hague | 11 | 271 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | VQ-BXD | Rotterdam The Hague | 11 | 310 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | VQ-BXF | Rotterdam The Hague | 10 | 221 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | HB-IXX | Zurich | 10 | 224 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | F-HLYS | Lyon-Bron | 10 | 244 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | VQ-BXH | Rotterdam The Hague | 10 | 300 h | Check this tail → |
Falcon 8X vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each European fleet, same window and method.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dassault Falcon 8X | 46 | 5.9 | 152 h | 401 nm | 2.0 : 1 | 36% |
| Bombardier Global 6000/6500 | 261 | 6.3 | 187 h | 658 nm | 2.5 : 1 | 31% |
| Dassault Falcon 7X | 126 | 7.3 | 173 h | 614 nm | 2.1 : 1 | 28% |
| Gulfstream G650/G650ER | 314 | 6.7 | 199 h | 654 nm | 2.5 : 1 | 30% |
| Bombardier Global 5000/5500 | 111 | 7.5 | 198 h | 589 nm | 2.1 : 1 | 34% |
Falcon 8X on paper
Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet; the rest are the manufacturer’s.
| Measure | Falcon 8X | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 73,000 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.16 |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 73,200 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.16 |
| Fuel capacity (certified) | 35,141 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.14 |
| Range (manufacturer) | ≈ 6,450 nm | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | 5,880 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Passengers | Up to 19 certified · manufacturer layouts 12–16 | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.17; Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (approx.) | ≈ 5,240 US gal | From the certified pounds at 6.7 lb per US gallon of Jet A; actual density varies with temperature |
| Length (manufacturer) | 80 ft 4 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | 86 ft 4 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Height (manufacturer) | 26 ft 1 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
What the Falcon 8X’s certification file says
Regulators publish an operational evaluation for each type: how pilots must be rated and trained, and what training must stress.
Here is what the Falcon 8X files say, each item with its source.
Crewing a Falcon 8X
| Item | What the file says |
|---|---|
| Type rating | Falcon 7XUK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.19 |
| Minimum crew | 2 pilotsUK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.17 |
Sources
| Document | Revision |
|---|---|
| UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 — Dassault Falcon 7X | UK CAA · Issue 01 · 26 Jan 2026 |
Chartering a Falcon 8X
15 of the 46 European Falcon 8Xs we track are on our charter list (33%).
Where charter Falcon 8Xs are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Paris-Le Bourget | 5 | |
| Farnborough | 2 | |
| EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg | 2 | |
| Aeroport Geneve-Cointrin | 2 | |
| Brussels | 1 | |
| Guernsey | 1 |
Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. No charter rates: prices depend on the operator and the trip. Check a specific aircraft’s record with its tail number before you book.
Falcon 8X questions
How far can a Falcon 8X fly?
Dassault quotes a range of 6,450 nautical miles for the Falcon 8X, with eight passengers and NBAA IFR reserves. Ocean flying is routine work for the European fleet: 43 aircraft made 243 nonstop Atlantic crossings in the twelve months we tracked. The busiest crossing ran between Teterboro, United States and Paris-Le Bourget, with 11 flights. We count legs between the Americas and Europe or Africa. Legs to Iceland or Greenland, usually fuel stops, are left out.
What are the dimensions of the Falcon 8X?
By Dassault's figures, the Falcon 8X is 80.3 feet long and stands 26.1 feet tall. Its wingspan is 86.3 feet, a little more than its length. The cabin runs 42.7 feet. The type certificate gives a maximum takeoff weight of 73,000 pounds for the Falcon 8X build of the Falcon 7X (UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.16).
What is the seating capacity of the Falcon 8X?
The type certificate allows up to 19 passenger seats (UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00162 Issue 01, p.17). Dassault's stated cabin layouts seat 12 to 16 passengers. The two are counted differently: the certificate gives the most seats the aircraft may carry, while Dassault's figures describe furnished cabins. The two pilots up front sit outside both passenger counts.
How many Falcon 8xs are there?
At least 64 Falcon 8Xs are flying: that is how many we tracked as active anywhere in the world since 1 Jan 2025. Treat it as a minimum, because aircraft that flew little or went untracked are missing. Our European figures cover a separate group, the 46 aircraft active in Europe in the twelve months to 31 Jul 2026. The windows differ, so one count does not sit inside the other.
How many hours a year does a Falcon 8X fly?
The median European Falcon 8X flew 152 estimated hours a year in the twelve months we tracked. The middle half of the fleet flew between 111 and 211 estimated hours, and 1 in 20 flew more than 308 estimated hours. That median was the lowest in its size group, below each of Bombardier Global 6000/6500, Dassault Falcon 7X, Gulfstream G650/G650ER and Bombardier Global 5000/5500. Tracking misses some flights, so an aircraft's logbook can run higher.
Is a high-hours Falcon 8X a bad buy?
No. Hours alone say little about the structure. Landings count against structural and landing-gear life limits, and an aircraft that flew its hours on long legs has fewer landings for them than one flying short hops, legs under 300 nm. Check hours per landing and short-hop share beside the total. Hours-based inspections also come due sooner on a busy aircraft, so ask which have been done.
How often does a Falcon 8X fly?
The median European Falcon 8X made 6 flights a month in the twelve months we tracked. The middle half made between 4 and 8. Flying days are a separate median, at 5 days a month. The fleet was busiest in November 2025, at a median of 7 flights, and quietest in August 2025, at 4.
How long is a typical Falcon 8X flight?
Across the fleet, the median leg was 401 nautical miles in the twelve months we tracked. Legs split two ways. The median aircraft flew 36% of its legs as short hops, the highest share in its size group. At the other end, 13% of the fleet's 3,001 tracked legs ran 1,800 nautical miles or more, a group that takes in the Atlantic crossings.
How often do Falcon 8X aircraft use short runways?
The median Falcon 8X left from a short runway on 16% of its departures. A short runway here is a field whose longest runway is under 1.25 times the type's published takeoff distance. Dassault quotes that distance as 5,880 feet at sea level, in ISA conditions and at maximum takeoff weight. At the low end, 1 in 20 aircraft kept it to 4% or less.
Cite this data
The Aircraft Ledger. “Dassault Falcon 8X fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/dassault/falcon-8x
Embed a chart
<iframe src="https://theaircraftledger.com/embed/fleet/dassault-falcon-8x/fatigue" title="Fatigue" width="100%" height="1180" style="border:0;max-width:960px" loading="lazy"></iframe>Method: Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft with most departures in Europe and at least 20 tracked flights in the latest twelve full months. Flight measures, bases, routes and rankings use ADS-B tracking 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026; corrosion and engines-and-brakes exposure use the same twelve months, or an aircraft’s record since 1 Jan 2025 when it had too few nights or departures in them. Estimated hours from time in the air. Tracking misses some flights, so counts and hours are minimums. ADS-B coverage grew over the window, so we don’t compare one year with the last. Tracking can’t tell one variant from another; the variant split, the busiest table’s variants and the age table use the FAA registry, so they cover US-registered aircraft only. We assume the longest runway at each field, so short-runway figures are conservative. Short-runway figures use the manufacturer’s published takeoff distance where our sources hold one for every variant (the longest, where tracking can’t tell variants apart), and a reference figure otherwise. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights, some over the longer window when the twelve months had too few. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. About our data