Dassault Falcon 900

Falcon 900
A Spanish Air Force Dassault Falcon 900B
General information
Type	Business jet
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
Status	Active service, in production
Primary users	French Air and Space Force Japan Coast Guard Nigerian Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force
Number built	>500 [1]
History
Manufactured	1984–present
First flight	21 September 1984;40 years ago (1984-09-21)
Developed from	Dassault Falcon 50
Variants	Dassault Falcon 2000
Developed into	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

Falcon 900EX (G-GALX) during a flyby

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] [6]}

Operational service

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

Dassault Falcon 900B

Falcon 900

Announced in 1984, original production. Powered by three 20 kilonewtons (4,500 pounds-force ) Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan jet engines. ^[7] 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. ^[8]

Falcon 900B

Revised production version from 1991, ^[8] powered by 21.13 kilonewtons (4,750 pounds-force) TFE731-5BR-1C engines. ^[9]

Falcon 900C

Replacement for 900B, introduced in 2000. ^{[8] [9]}

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. ^[9]

Falcon 900EX EASy

Long range version produced from 2004 to 2009; fitted with Honeywell / Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics. TFE731-60 engines. ^[10]

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). ^[11]

Envoy IV

Royal Air Force military designation for the 900LX. ^[12]

VC-900A

Italian military designation for the 900EX. ^[13]

VC-900B

Italian military designation for the 900EX EASy. ^[13]

Operators

Civil operators

A Falcon 900B of Gazpromavia

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

  Libya

• Government owned (registration number 5A-DCN)

  Qatar

• Qatar Amiri Flight

  Saudi Arabia

• Saudia Private Aviation

Military operators

Falcon 900EX of the Italian Air Force

Falcon 900EX of the Bolivian Air Force

Falcon 900LX (Envoy IV CC1) of the Royal Air Force operated by 32 (The Royal) Squadron in its 'Global Britain' livery

  Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force - 900EX (registration FAB-001) is presidential aircraft ^[14]

  France

• French Air and Space Force

  Germany

• Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service)

  Italy

• Italian Air Force - operates five Falcon 900EX since 2005 ^[15]

  Japan

• Japan Coast Guard

  Malaysia

• Royal Malaysian Air Force

  Namibia

• Namibian Air Force

  Nigeria

• Nigerian Air Force

  Portugal

• Portuguese Air Force ^[16]

  Russia

• President of Russia

  South Africa

• South African Air Force

  Spain

• Spanish Air and Space Force

  Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force - 900EX EASy II ^[17]

  Syria

• Syrian Air Force

  United Arab Emirates

• United Arab Emirates Air Force

  United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
  • 32 (The Royal) Squadron - two civilian-registered 900LXs operated under civil contract from March 2022, full military from 2026. ^[18]

  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

  Belgium

• Belgian Air Component - one was in use until 2019 for VIP transport

  Gabon

• Gabon Air Force

  Greece

• Government of Greece

  Malawi

• Government of Malawi - a Falcon 900EX purchased in 2009 as a presidential jet, sold in 2013 ^[19]
• Military of Malawi

  Monaco

• Government of Monaco - replaced by a Falcon 7X

Accidents and incidents

• On 14 September 1999, Olympic Airways Flight 3838, a Falcon 900B (registered SX-ECH) operating for the Hellenic Air Force 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. ^[20]
• 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. ^[21]

Specifications (Falcon 900B)

A Falcon 900 shortly after take-off

Data from ^[9]

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 × Honeywell 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

• Aviation portal

Related development

• Dassault Falcon 50
• Dassault Falcon 2000
• Dassault Falcon 7X

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Bombardier Challenger 605
• Bombardier Global 5500
• Embraer Legacy 600 / 650
• Gulfstream G450

Related lists

• List of civil aircraft

References

1. "Dassault set to deliver 500th Falcon 900". DassaultFalcon.com. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
2. "Dassault Falcon 900". SKYbrary.aero. SKYbrary Aviation Safety. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
3. "Falcon 900 DX". DassaultFalcon.com. Dassault Aviation. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
4. "EBACE 2008 - Dassault announces Falcon 900LX". FlightGlobal.com. FlightGlobal. 19 May 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
5. "Purchase planning handbook - Jets table". Infogram.com. Business & Commercial Aircraft. Second Quarter 2023.
6. Rivero, Nicolás (7 February 2024). "Why the idea of Taylor Swift's Super Bowl jet trip is sparking controversy". Washington Post.
7. Taylor 1988, p.77.
8. "The Dassault Falcon 900". Airliners.net. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
9. 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.
10. "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy". GuardianJet.com. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
11. "Falcon 900LX performance". DassaultFalcon.com. Dassault Falcon. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
12. "Envoy IV CC1". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
13. "UTILIZZO DELLA NOMENCLATURA "MISSION DESIGN SERIES" (MDS) NELLE PUBBLICAZIONI TECNICHE (PPTT) DI COMPETENZA DELLA DAA" (PDF). DGAA.it. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
14. Cicalesi, Juan Carlos; Rivas, Santiago (August 2010). "New Bolivian Presidential Transport". Air International . Vol. 79, no. 2. p. 5.
15. "Official website Aeronautica Militare". difesa.it. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
16. "Falcon 900 com callsign da equadra 504". Passarodeferro.com. February 2023.
17. "Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy II". Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
18. Cartlidge, James (13 February 2024). "Military Aircraft". Questions-Statements.Parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
19. "Malawi sells presidential jet". nyasatimes.com. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014.
20. Accident descriptionfor ASN aircraft accident 14-SEP-1999 Dassault Falcon 900B SX-ECH at the Aviation Safety Network
21. Accident descriptionfor 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.

External links

• Dassault Falcon 900 page
• Airliners.net aircraft data sheet