Duncan Aviation’s experts at their full-service maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, took this legacy Falcon 2000EX and gave it new life. Highlighted by silk carpet, new PSU overlay panels, streamlined drinkrails, and several unique details, the new paint and interior came together to modernize the aircraft.
The clients liked the aesthetics of their Falcon 7X, so Senior Lead Designer Stephanie Kuhn assembled several materials and paint scheme options that reflected those preferences while ensuring a unique identity tailored specifically for the Falcon 2000.
Appreciation for Natural Beauty
The carpet is the most defining part of the interior. The field is 100% silk with a luxurious, marbled, and soft appearance.
“Typically, carpets feature a flatter tone or incorporate accents of silk,” explained Kuhn. “In this case, the silk covering the entire field provides a shimmer effect and serves as a prominent focal point.”
Silk, while more delicate than traditional wool carpet, still maintains durability. Its shimmering appearance emanates a luxurious look that feels soft to the touch. This natural beauty must be appreciated for its organic material.
“Silk carpet often exhibits a marbled, natural appearance,” Kuhn said. “Appreciating its natural beauty is key because silk fibers naturally resist laying uniformly in one direction.”
To truly appreciate this aircraft’s new interior, one must fully embrace the natural beauty of authentic materials.
“It’s a statement piece in luxury investments,” said Kuhn.
An Updated and Streamlined Look
The team incorporated the Duncan Aviation-designed, one-piece PSU overlay panels and modernized the drinkrails to create an updated look in the cabin that is also functional.
They developed the PSU overlay panels to provide an updated look to the cabin interior and integrate with existing or new LED lighting. They also allow for easy removal and installation compared to traditional PSU panels. The new recessed areas have a radiused design and are covered in the same material as the PSU overlay.
They designed the updated drinkrails to have a streamlined profile that modernizes the interior and gives it contemporary appeal. The existing cupholders were relocated to fit the new lid that accommodates the cabin switch panels.
More Clearance
Because the interior space can be narrow between the conference table and the settee, the owners wanted more aisle clearance and a clearer pathway. The previous settee was outdated, bulky, and protruded into the aisle. By reducing the thickness on the backrest and streamlining the design, they were able to provide two more inches in the aisle without sacrificing seating area or comfort.
The Exterior
Kuhn initially presented a few options for the new paint design. After selecting their favorite elements from the different designs, Kuhn used the client’s input to reimagine the possibilities and create a final design that incorporated everything the client desired.
The new paint features a sleek, modern design with sweeping stripes in blue, navy, and silver grey. The timeless and professional appearance enhances the aircraft’s overall presence.
The Details
The plating offers a modern look and coordinates beautifully with the veneer. Black pearl satin is featured on metal surfaces like latches, lights, air vents, faucets, sinks, and cupholders.
The new fabric on the window panels enhances the space with a soft texture. They applied a soil protectant to give the material liquid-repellent properties similar to an Ultraleather material. Additionally, the fabric offers slightly better sound absorption than Ultraleather.
The blue leather lower sidewalls coordinate perfectly with the accent yarn in the carpet and complement the exterior paint stripe.
The new composite brown, ebony veneer on the drinkrails, tabletops, galley and lavatory give off an exquisite touch.
The new polycarbonate on the galley and lavatory slider doors has a soft linen texture that provides an opaque look to the illuminated compartments.
The grain of the solid surface galley and lavatory countertops offers a marbled appearance, providing a stylish alternative to natural materials.
They also installed new Prizm LED lighting, USB ports, Collins Venue Cabin Management System (CMS), and the Alto Technology sound system.
Overall
Senior Modifications & Sales Rep Tracey Boesch said it is fun to see what the aircraft looked like before and compare it to what it has become.
“From the upgrades in the build, layered with newer, contemporary details and materials, we breathed new life into the aircraft,” she said. “It was really a treat to see the before and after. It’s always a fun and enjoyable process, and I have to remind myself to take it all in. Typically, we get the project done, take photos, then it’s on to the next one. I took an extra moment to linger and enjoy the great artisanship our teams performed on this aircraft.”
Watch a video of the newly refurbished aircraft here: https://duncanaviation.aero/videos/refurbishing-a-falcon-2000ex-a-natural-beauty
