Dassault Falcon 900

The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900,[2] 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 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 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,[3] 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.

Of the 81 Falcon 900LX aircraft in service in 2020, valued then $16 to $18 million each as its fuel consumption is up to 40% less than its competition, most were in North America with 69% of the fleet then in Europe with 16%.[4] The 900LX burns 2,800 lb (1,300 kg) of fuel in the first hour and 1,700–2,200 lb (770–1,000 kg) depending on weight per subsequent hour, while maintenance runs $2,000 per hour plus $382 per engine and $111 for the APU.[5]

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.[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 kN (4,750 lbf) TFE731-5BR-1C engines.[8]
Falcon 900C
Replacement for 900B with improved avionics. Introduced in 2000.[7][8]
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.[8]
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.[9]
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).[10]
VC-900A
Italian military designation for the 900EX.[11]
VC-900B
Italian military designation for the 900EASY.[11]

Operators

Civil operators
A Falcon 900B of Gazpromavia

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

 Qatar

 Saudi Arabia

Military operators
Falcon 900EX of the Italian Air Force
 Bolivia
 France
 Germany
  • Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service)
 Italy
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Namibia
 Nigeria
 Russia
 South Africa
 Spain
 Syria
 United Arab Emirates
  Switzerland
 Venezuela

Former operators
 Algeria
 Australia
 Belgium
 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.[15]
  • Military of Malawi
 Monaco

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 deputy foreign minister for Greece.[16]

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

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)
  • 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

Related lists

References
  1. "Page Not Found". www.dassaultfalcon.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018. Cite uses generic title (help)
  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. Fred George (November 20, 2020). "A Spotlight On Dassault Falcon 900LX". Aviation Week.
  5. Fred George (November 16, 2020). "Dassault Falcon 900LX: Top Prices For Best-In-Class Fuel Efficiency". Business & Commercial Aviation.
  6. Taylor 1988, p.77.
  7. "The Dassault Falcon 900 Archived 2009-04-25 at the Wayback Machine". airliners.net. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  8. 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)
  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. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2012-07-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Cicalesi, Juan Carlos; Rivas, Santiago (August 2010). "New Bolivian Presidential Transport". Air International. Vol. 79 no. 2. p. 5.
  13. "Official website Aeronautica Militare". difesa.it. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Malawi Sells Presidential Jet Archived 2014-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  16. Accident description for ASN Aircraft accident 14-SEP-1999 Dassault Falcon 900B SX-ECH at the Aviation Safety Network
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