Dassault Falcon 900

The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900,[2] is a French-built corporate trijet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation.

Falcon 900
Role Business jet
National origin France
Manufacturer Dassault Aviation
First flight 21 September 1984
Status Active service, in production
Primary users French Air and Space Force
Japan Coast Guard
Nigerian Air Force
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Produced 1984–present
Number built 500+[1]
Developed from Dassault Falcon 50
Variants Dassault Falcon 2000
Dassault Falcon 7X

Development
A Falcon 900EX during a flyby

The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The Falcon 900 design incorporates composite materials.

Other models include the Falcon 900-B, featuring an increased range, and the Falcon 900EX featuring other improvements in engines and range and an all-glass flight deck. The Falcon 900C is a companion to the Falcon 900EX and replaces the Falcon 900B. Later versions are the Falcon 900EX EASy and the Falcon 900DX. At EBACE 2008, Dassault announced another development of the 900 series: the Falcon 900LX,[3] incorporating high mach blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc.

In 2023, the 900LX equipped price was $44.7M.[4]

Operational service

The Falcon 900 is used by the Transport Squadron 60 (Transportation, Training and Calibration Squadron 65), which is in charge of transportation for officials of the French state.

Variants
Dassault Falcon 900B
Falcon 900
Announced in 1984. Original production. Powered by three 20 kN (4,500 lbf) Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan engines.[5] It was certified in 1986 by French and U.S. aviation authorities.
Falcon 900 MSA
Maritime patrol version for Japan Coast Guard. This variant is equipped with search radar and a hatch for dropping rescue stores.[6]
Falcon 900B
Revised production version from 1991.[6] Powered by 21.13 kN (4,750 lbf) TFE731-5BR-1C engines.[7]
Falcon 900C
Replacement for 900B. Introduced in 2000.[6][7]
Falcon 900EX
Long range version, with 22.24 kN (5,000 lbf) engines. This variant features TFE731-60 engines, with a range of 8,340 km (4,501 nm; 5,180 miles). Avionics by (Honeywell Primus). It entered service in 1996.[7]
Falcon 900EX EASy
Long range version produced from 2004 to 2009. Fitted with Honeywell/Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics. TFE731-60 engines.[8]
Falcon 900DX
Shorter-range production type. TFE731-60 engines.[9]
Falcon 900LX
Current production variant of EX fitted with blended winglets. Range of 4,750 nmi (8,800 km).[10]
Envoy IV
RAF military designation for the 900LX.[11]
VC-900A
Italian military designation for the 900EX.[12]
VC-900B
Italian military designation for the 900EX EASy.[12]

Operators

Civil operators
A Falcon 900B of Gazpromavia

A wide range of private owners, businesses and small airlines operate Falcon 900s.

 Libya
  • Government owned (tail number 5A-DCN)

 Qatar

 Saudi Arabia

Military operators
Falcon 900EX of the Italian Air Force
Falcon 900EX of the Bolivian Air Force.
 Bolivia
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Namibia
 Nigeria
 Portugal
 Russia
 South Africa
 Spain
 Syria
 United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force 2 900LXs operated under civil contract from March 2022, full military from 2024[16]
 United Arab Emirates
  Switzerland
 Venezuela

Former operators
 Algeria
 Australia
 Belgium
 Gabon
 Greece
  • Government of Greece
 Malawi
 Monaco

Accidents and incidents
  • On 14 September 1999 a Falcon 900B operating for the Greek Government by Olympic Airways, and registered SX-ECH, was descending to land at Bucharest, Romania, when the autopilot disengaged and several pilot-induced oscillations occurred. The impact of unfastened passengers with the cabin and aircraft furniture resulted in fatal injuries to seven passengers, serious injuries to two and minor to another two. Among the victims was Giannos Kranidiotis, then deputy foreign minister for Greece.[19]
  • On 13 February 2021 a Falcon 900EX corporate jet (N823RC) experienced a landing gear collapse after an aborted takeoff at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, California. Although the airplane sustained significant damage, all five occupants on board escaped without injuries. The flight crew explained that during the takeoff attempt, the captain applied back pressure to the control yoke, but the nose failed to rotate to a takeoff position. After multiple attempts, the captain decided to reject the takeoff by reducing thrust and applying maximum brakes. As a result, the aircraft overshot the runway and the landing gear collapsed upon reaching a gravel pad. The NTSB investigation revealed that the captain did not possess a valid pilot certificate due to an emergency revocation by the FAA two years earlier. This revocation occurred because the captain had falsified logbook entries and records for pilot proficiency checks, competency checks, and training events while serving as a check pilot for a Part 135 operator.[20]

Specifications (Falcon 900B)
A Falcon 900 shortly after take-off

Data from [7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 19 passengers
  • Length: 20.21 m (66 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.33 m (63 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 49.0 m2 (527 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.63:1
  • Empty weight: 10,255 kg (22,608 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 20,640 kg (45,503 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 8,690 kg (19,160 lb)
  • Powerplant: 3 × AlliedSignal TFE731-5BR-1C turbofans, 21.13 kN (4,750 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.84–0.87
  • Cruise speed: 950 km/h (590 mph, 510 kn) ; Mach 0.85 (at 11,000 m (36,000 ft))
  • Stall speed: 158 km/h (98 mph, 85 kn) (wheels and flaps down)
  • Range: 7,400 km (4,600 mi, 4,000 nmi) with 8 passengers
  • Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,900 ft)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. "Dassault Set to Deliver 500th Falcon 900". www.dassaultfalcon.com. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  2. "DASSAULT Falcon 900 - SKYbrary Aviation Safety". www.skybrary.aero. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  3. "News Channel - Homepage - flightglobal.com". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  4. "Purchase planning handbook - Jets table". Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2023.
  5. Taylor 1988, p.77.
  6. "The Dassault Falcon 900 Archived 2009-04-25 at the Wayback Machine". airliners.net. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  7. Taylor, M J H, ed. (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. pp. 416–417. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
  8. "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy". Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  9. "Falcon 900 DX Archived 2009-02-28 at the Wayback Machine". Dassault Aviation, 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  10. "Falcon 900LX Performance". Dassault Falcon. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  11. "Envoy IV CC1". Official RAF website. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2012-07-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Cicalesi, Juan Carlos; Rivas, Santiago (August 2010). "New Bolivian Presidential Transport". Air International. Vol. 79, no. 2. p. 5.
  14. "Official website Aeronautica Militare". difesa.it. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  15. {http://www.passarodeferro.com/2023/02/falcon-900-com-callsign-da-equadra-504.html}
  16. "Britain purchasing French jets for VIP transport". 8 February 2022.
  17. "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy II". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  18. Malawi Sells Presidential Jet Archived 2014-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  19. Accident description for ASN Aircraft accident 14-SEP-1999 Dassault Falcon 900B SX-ECH at the Aviation Safety Network
  20. "ASN Aircraft accident Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy N823RC San Diego-Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, CA (MYF)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
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