When it comes to how the
wealthy commute, there are one of
two ways to go: travelling in style,
or travelling in exclusive, palatial
fashion. The latter is reserved for
the ultra-high net worth individu-
als who do not just own their own
private planes, but own impres-
sive, luxurious private jets that are
unattainable for anyone not in the
top tier of the 1%. French private
jet maker Dassault is seeking
those extraordinarily wealthy in-
dividuals for its new Falcon 8x jet,
which flaunts a purchase price
of approximately US$60 million.
The Falcon 8x originates from
a line of enviable Dassault Falcon
jets, all of which are attached to a
hefty purchase price—and upkeep
costs. Procuring a used version of
the previous model Falcon 7x can
set one back between an estimated
US$20 million and US$40 million.
According to private jet special-
ist Business Jet Traveler
, reported
by Stuff, with the cost of the crew
amounting to US$558,480 a year and
then US$10,000 to fill the jets’ petrol
tank, the total rate of using the Falcon
8x would be US$2.4 million a year.
Dassault
Falcon Asia Pacific presi-
dent Jean Michel-Jacob equated the Falcon
8x to a “flying carpet.” Whether it is ice in Antarc-
tica, the middle of London, or the rough terrain
of Papua New Guinea, the 8x can land on pretty
much any surface its owner wishes, as stated by
Michel-Jacob. Additionally, Dassault used its
military aviation background to incorporate the
Falcon Eye head-up display system, which proj-
ects an image from a highly-sensitive camera
onto a lens in front of the cockpit window. Such
innovative technology was initially developed
for fighter jets to assist with landing in poor vis-
ibility and bad weather, making it safer to do so.