Dassault Falcon 900B
Tri-jet Corporate Business Aircraft, France
Archive Photos 1
Dassault Falcon 900B (C-FGFI, c/n 138) photographed at LAX on 10/08/2011. (Photos by John Shupek) copyright © 2011 Skytamer Images)
Overview 2
- Dassault 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+
- Unit cost: US$43.3 million
- Developed from: Dassault Falcon 50
- Variants: Dassault Falcon 2000; Dassault Falcon 7X
The Dassault Falcon 900 is a French-built corporate jet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation. Together with its larger sibling, the Falcon 7X, in 2008 they were the only trijets in production. Both aircraft are notable in featuring an S-duct central engine.
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.
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 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 2
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 2
- Falcon 900: Announced in 1984. Original production. Powered by three 20 kN (4,500 lbf) Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan engines. Certified in 1986 by French and U.S. aviation authorities.
- Falcon 900 MSA: Maritime patrol version for Japan Coast Guard. Equipped with search radar and hatch for dropping rescue stores.
- Falcon 900B: Revised production version from 1991. Powered by 21.13 kN (4,750 lbf) TFE731-5BR-1C engines.
- Falcon 900C: Replacement for 900B with improved avionics. Introduced 2000.
- Falcon 900EX: Long range version, with 22.24 kN (5,000 lbf) TFE731-60 engines and more fuel to give range of 8,340 km (4,501 nm; 5,180 miles). Improved avionics (Honeywell Primus). Entered service 1996.
- 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.
- 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).
- VC-900A: Italian military designation for the 900EX.
- VC-900B: Italian military designation for the 900EASY.
Operators 2
Civil Operators
- A wide range of private owners, businesses and small airlines operate Falcon 900s.
- Saudi Arabia: Saudia Private Aviation
- Qatar: Qatar Amiri Flight
Military Operators
- Belgium: Belgian Air Component
- Bolivia: Bolivian Air Force; 900EX FAB-001 is presidential aircraft.
- France: French Air Force
- Germany: Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service)
- Japan: Japan Coast Guard
- Italy: Italian Air Force operates 5 Falcon 900EX since 2005
- Malaysia: Royal Malaysian Air Force
- Namibia: Namibian Air Force
- Nigeria: Nigerian Air Force
- Russia: President of Russia
- South Africa: South African Air Force
- Spain: Spanish Air Force
- Syria: Syrian Air Force
- United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates Air Force
- Switzerland: Swiss Air Force; 900EX EASy II (purchased from Monaco)
- Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force
Former Operators
- Algeria: Algerian Air Force
- Australia: Royal Australian Air Force - five in service from 1989-2003. No. 34 Squadron RAAF.
- Gabon: Gabon Air Force
- Greece: Government of Greece
- Malawi: Government of Malawi - A Falcon 900EX purchased in 2009 as a presidential jet, was sold in 2013.; Military of Malawi.
- Monaco: Government of Monaco, replaced by a Falcon 7X
Specifications (Falcon 900B) 2
General Characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Capacity: 19 passengers
- Length: 20.21 m (66 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan:
- Height: 7.55 m (24 ft 9.5 in)
- Wing area: 49 m² (527 ft²)
- Empty weight: 10,255 kg (22,608 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 20,640 kg (45,503 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Honeywell TFE731-5BR-1C turbofan, 21.13 kN (4,750 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.84-0.87
- Cruise speed: 950 km/h (513 knots, 590 mph) at 36,000 ft (10,970 m) (Mach 0.85)
- Stall speed: 158 km/h (85 knots, 98 mph) (wheels and flaps down)
- Range: 7,400 km (3,995 nm, 4,598 mi) (7 passengers)
- Service ceiling: 15,500 m (51,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 435 kg/m² (91 lb/ft²)
References
- Photos: John Shupek copyright © 2011 Skytamer Images. All Rights Reserved
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Dassault Falcon 900
