| 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 |
The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900,[2] is a French-built corporate trijet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation.
Development[edit]
The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The Falcon 900 airframe 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.[3] At EBACE 2008, Dassault announced another development of the 900 series: the Falcon 900LX,[4] incorporating high mach blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc.
In 2023, the 900LX equipped price was $44.7 million.[5]
Operational service[edit]
In France, the Falcon 900 is used by the Transport Squadron 60 (Transportation, Training and Calibration Squadron 65), which is in charge of transportation for officials in France.
Variants[edit]
- Falcon 900
- Announced in 1984, original production. Powered by three 20 kilonewtons (4,500 pounds-force) Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan jet engines.[6] 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.[7]
- Falcon 900B
- Revised production version from 1991,[7] powered by 21.13 kilonewtons (4,750 pounds-force) TFE731-5BR-1C engines.[8]
- Falcon 900C
- Replacement for 900B, introduced in 2000.[7][8]
- Falcon 900EX
- Long range version with 22.24 kilonewtons (5,000 pounds-force) engines; this variant features TFE731-60 engines, with a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,334 kilometres; 5,179 miles). Avionics by (Honeywell Primus). It entered service in 1996.[8]
- Falcon 900EX EASy
- Long range version produced from 2004 to 2009; fitted with Honeywell / Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics. TFE731-60 engines.[9]
- Falcon 900DX
- Shorter-range production type with TFE731-60 engines.[3]
- Falcon 900LX
- Current production variant of EX fitted with blended winglets; range of 4,750 nautical miles (8,797 kilometres; 5,466 miles).[10]
- Envoy IV
- Royal Air Force 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[edit]
Civil operators[edit]
A wide range of private owners, businesses, and small airlines operate Falcon 900s.
- Government owned (registration number 5A-DCN)
Military operators[edit]
- Bolivian Air Force - 900EX (registration FAB-001) is presidential aircraft[13]
- Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service)
- Italian Air Force - operates five Falcon 900EX since 2005[14]
- Swiss Air Force - 900EX EASy II[16]
- Royal Air Force
- 32 (The Royal) Squadron - two civilian-registered 900LXs operated under civil contract from March 2022, full military from 2026.[17]
Former operators[edit]
- Royal Australian Air Force - five in service from 1989-2003
- Belgian Air Component - one was in use until 2019 for VIP transport
- Government of Greece
- Government of Malawi - a Falcon 900EX purchased in 2009 as a presidential jet, sold in 2013[18]
- Military of Malawi
- Government of Monaco - replaced by a Falcon 7X
Accidents and incidents[edit]
- On 14 September 1999, a Falcon 900B (registered SX-ECH) operating for the Greek Government by Olympic Airways, 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 aircraft 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)[edit]
Data from [8]
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[edit]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of civil aircraft
- Environmental effects of aviation – Effect of emissions from aircraft engines
References[edit]
- ^ "Dassault set to deliver 500th Falcon 900". DassaultFalcon.com. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Dassault Falcon 900". SKYbrary.aero. SKYbrary Aviation Safety. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Falcon 900 DX". DassaultFalcon.com. Dassault Aviation. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "EBACE 2008 - Dassault announces Falcon 900LX". FlightGlobal.com. FlightGlobal. 19 May 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Purchase planning handbook - Jets table". Infogram.com. Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2023.
- ^ Taylor 1988, p.77.
- ^ a b c "The Dassault Falcon 900". Airliners.net. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy". GuardianJet.com. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Falcon 900LX performance". DassaultFalcon.com. Dassault Falcon. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Envoy IV CC1". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). DGAA.it. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Cicalesi, Juan Carlos; Rivas, Santiago (August 2010). "New Bolivian Presidential Transport". Air International. Vol. 79, no. 2. p. 5.
- ^ "Official website Aeronautica Militare". difesa.it. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Falcon 900 com callsign da equadra 504". Passarodeferro.com. February 2023.
- ^ "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy II". Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ Cartlidge, James (13 February 2024). "Military Aircraft". Questions-Statements.Parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Malawi sells presidential jet". nyasatimes.com. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014.
- ^ Accident description for ASN aircraft accident 14-SEP-1999 Dassault Falcon 900B SX-ECH at the Aviation Safety Network
- ^ Accident description for ASN aircraft accident Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy N823RC San Diego-Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, CA (MYF) at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 6 July 2023.