The Dassault Falcon 900 is a French-built corporate jet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation. It, and its larger sibling the Falcon 7X, are the only trijets in production. Both aircraft are notable in featuring an S-duct central engine.

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.

Improved models include the Falcon 900B, 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 being developed for the entire Falcon 900 series as a retrofit kit with certification planned for 2009.

Pre-owned value: $18,000,000-$40,000,000

Operational service

The Falcon 900 is used by the Escadron de transport, d'entraînement et de calibrage which is in charge of transportation for officials of the French state.

Variants

• Falcon 900
  Original production. Powered by three 20 kN (4,500 lbf) Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan engines.
• 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 900EX
  Long range version, with 22.24 kN (5,000 lbf) TFE731-60 engines and more fuel to give range of 8,340 km (5,180 miles). Improved avionics. Entered service 1996.
• Falcon 900C
  Replacement for 900B with improved avionics. Introduced 2000.
• Falcon 900DX
  Current medium range production type. TFE731-60 engines.
• Falcon 900LX
  Variant of EX fitted with winglets. Improved range of 8,890 km (5,525 miles).

Operators

Civil operators

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

Military operators

• Algeria
  Algerian Air Force
• Australia
  Royal Australian Air Force - five in service from 1989-2003.
  No. 34 Squadron RAAF
• Belgium
  Belgian Air Component
• Bolivia
  Bolivian Air Force
• France
  French Air Force
• Gabon
  Gabon Air Force
• Italy
  Italian Air Force
• Japan
  Japan Coast Guard
• Malaysia
  Royal Malaysian Air Force
• Namibia
  Namibian Air Force
• Nigeria
  Nigerian Air Force
• South Africa
  South African Air Force
• Spain
  Spanish Air Force
• Syria
  Syrian Air Force
• United Arab Emirates
  United Arab Emirates Air Force
• Venezuela
  Venezuelan Air Force

Specifications (Falcon 900B)

General characteristics
Crew: Two
Capacity: 19 passengers
Length: 20.21 m (66 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 19.33 m (63 ft 5 in)
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: 20,640kg (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 36,000ft (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: 435kg/m² (91lb/ft²)