Dassault Falcon 900
The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900,[3] is a trijet French-built corporate jet 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 Force Japan Coast Guard Nigerian Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force |
Produced | 1984–present |
Number built | 500+[1] |
Unit cost |
US$44.8 million[2] |
Developed from | Dassault Falcon 50 |
Variants | Dassault Falcon 2000 Dassault Falcon 7X |
Development
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 and an S-duct to feed the central engine.
Improved models include the Falcon 900-B, featuring improved engines and increased range, and the Falcon 900EX featuring further improvements in engines and range and an all-glass flight deck. The Falcon 900C is a lower-cost 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,[4] incorporating high mach blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc. The same winglets are certified for the entire Falcon 900 series as a retrofit kit.
Operational service
The Falcon 900 is used by the Escadron de transport, d'entrainement et de calibration, which is in charge of transportation for officials of the French state.
Variants
- 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 with improved avionics. Introduced in 2000.[6][7]
- Falcon 900EX
- Long range version, with 22.24 kN (5,000 lbf) This variant features TFE731-60 engines and can store more fuel to give an increased range of 8,340 km (4,501 nm; 5,180 miles). Improved avionics (Honeywell Primus). It entered service 1996.[7]
Falcon 900EX EASy
900EX with Enhanced Avionics System (EASy) incorporating ground-breaking T-shape configuration of Honeywell Primus Epic avionics and path-based flight display.
- Falcon 900DX
- Shorter-range production type. TFE731-60 engines.[8]
- Falcon 900LX
- Current production variant of EX fitted with blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc.. Improved range of 4,750 nmi (8,800 km).[9]
- VC-900A
- Italian military designation for the 900EX.[10]
- VC-900B
- Italian military designation for the 900EASY.[10]
Operators
Civil operators
A wide range of private owners, businesses and small airlines operate Falcon 900s.
Military operators
- Bolivian Air Force
- 900EX FAB-001 is presidential aircraft[11]
- Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service)
- Italian Air Force operates 5 Falcon 900EX since 2005[12]
- Swiss Air Force: 900EX EASy II (purchased from Monaco)[13]
Former operators
- Royal Australian Air Force - five in service from 1989-2003.
- Belgian Air Component - one was in use till 2019, for VIP transport
- Gabon Air Force
- Government of Greece
- Government of Malawi - A Falcon 900EX purchased in 2009 as a presidential jet, was sold in 2013.[14]
- Military of Malawi
- Government of Monaco, replaced by a Falcon 7X
Accidents and incidents
- On September 14, 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 alternate foreign minister for Greece.[15]
Specifications (Falcon 900B)
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)
- Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 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
- Bombardier Challenger 605
- Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Praetor 500/600
- Embraer Legacy 600 / 650
- Gulfstream G450
Related lists
References
- "Page Not Found". www.dassaultfalcon.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- "Purchase Planning Handbook" (PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week Network. May 2018.
- "DASSAULT Falcon 900 - SKYbrary Aviation Safety". www.skybrary.aero. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- "News Channel - Homepage - flightglobal.com". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- Taylor 1988, p.77.
- "The Dassault Falcon 900 Archived 2009-04-25 at the Wayback Machine". airliners.net. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. pp. 416–417. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Falcon 900 DX Archived 2009-02-28 at the Wayback Machine". Dassault Aviation, 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- "Falcon 900LX Performance". Dassault Falcon. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2012-07-15.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.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Malawi Sells Presidential Jet Archived 2014-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Accident description for ASN Aircraft accident 14-SEP-1999 Dassault Falcon 900B SX-ECH at the Aviation Safety Network
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dassault Falcon 900. |