Dassault is encouraged by the activity surrounding its recently unveiled Falcon 6X, with strong order conversions from customers of the now-scuttled 5X program, according to Dassault Falcon Jet president and CEO John Rosanvallon.

The company unveiled the 6X in late February after ongoing problems with the Safran Silvercrest forced the French manufacturer to shelve the large-cabin 5X. The new 6X not only will sport a different engine, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D, but will also have an additional 300 nm of range, to 5,500 nm, and a 20-inch longer cabin.

“We have a very good conversion rate with people who have 5X contracts into 6X. That's the first positive indication,” Rosanvallon said. He pointed to the 6X's improvements tas a draw, but he also finds the conversion rate particularly satisfying given the 6X will not reach market until 2022, two years after the 5X would have. "It's encouraging to see that most of the people who stayed with the 5X want to follow to the 6X," he said.

As for new orders, he told AIN that in the first few months of introducing the newest Falcon, activity has been solid, but added it is still early in the process to draw sales conclusions. However, one conclusion Dassault has made since the introduction: “It is clear that people like the 6X.”