Dassault Falcon 30
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 22, 1929 in France |
| Founder | Marcel Dassault |
| Headquarters | Mérignac , France |
| Products | Aircraft, including Dassault Falcon 30 |
| Website | www |
The Dassault Falcon 30 was a French prototype regional jet airliner from the 1970s, developed by Dassault Aviation as an evolution of the Falcon 20 business jet. It incorporated a widened fuselage and more powerful engines, designed to carry up to 40 passengers. Only a single prototype was constructed and made its maiden flight on 11 May 1973; no further production ensued.
Early concepts
Development of airliner variants based on the Mystère 20 (later known as Falcon 20) commenced in January 1963 with the Mystère 30 project, aimed at transporting between 30 and 40 passengers over . Publicly unveiled in January 1964, Dassault collaborated with the German firm Siebelwerke/ATG for manufacturing. Although airlines such as Australian Ansett Airlines and American Eastern Airlines showed interest, progress was hindered by the absence of suitable engines. In response to regional French airlines’ interest in the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-40 trijet during 1970, Marcel Dassault initiated the Falcon 20T design—a compact jet airliner merging Falcon 20 components with a newly designed fuselage accommodating 24 seats. Displayed as a full-scale mockup at the 1971 Paris Air Show, it garnered attention but was ultimately put on hold because its General Electric CF700 turbofan engines did not provide sufficient take-off thrust for operations at smaller regional airports.
Falcon 30 development
The introduction of the Avco Lycoming ALF 502 geared turbofan towards the end of 1971 renewed and reshaped the project. Due to the increased weight of the ALF 502 engines, the forward fuselage had to be extended by , allowing space for an additional window and seating. The wing center-section was enlarged to lower wing loading and boost fuel capacity, while the tail surfaces were expanded to counterbalance larger engine nacelles. These modifications converted the Falcon 20T into what became known as the Falcon 30.
Constructed as a low-wing cantilever monoplane with all-metal build and retractable tricycle landing gear, the Falcon 30 featured two ALF 502 engines housed in separate nacelles positioned on either side of the rear fuselage. The circular fuselage diameter grew from on the Falcon 20 to . The cockpit accommodated pilot and copilot seated side by side; cabin capacity reached up to 30 passengers plus crew, complemented by a baggage compartment at the rear. When outfitted for business use, it could carry between eight and fifteen passengers.
The prototype was finalized on 24 March 1973 and conducted its first flight at Dassault’s Mérignac facility on 11 May. Following ground evaluations, it was showcased at the Paris Air Show after completing nine flights. In July, further adjustments included extending the fuselage by another and enlarging the horizontal stabilizer.
Plans for a second prototype reflected production intentions: it would feature more powerful ALF 502 engines along with an increased fuselage diameter of , allowing four-abreast seating arrangements. Two variants were proposed: the Falcon 30 tailored for U.S. operators restricted by Federal Aviation Regulations to carrying no more than 30 passengers, offering a range of , and the Falcon 40—a collaboration with Aérospatiale—aimed at European markets without such limits, capable of seating up to 40 passengers over .
Different naming conventions appeared across sources, with terms like Falcon 30/Falcon 40 and Mystère 30/Mystère 40 used interchangeably by Dassault and others.
Cancellation
Dassault's leadership set a prerequisite of securing 100 firm orders before initiating production. Although Federal Express, which operated numerous Falcon 20s, showed interest in acquiring 30 units, and certain European carriers like TAT held options for four Falcon 40s, these commitments failed to meet the required threshold. The 1973 oil crisis significantly reduced market demand, while the jet-powered Falcon models were priced higher compared to turboprop alternatives. Operators preferred the Falcon 25, a three-engine variant derived from the Falcon 20, valued for its extended range and suitability for lengthy overwater routes. Persistent development issues with the Falcon 30/40—such as modifications needed for rear fuselage aerodynamics and excessive cabin noise caused by the ALF 502 engines—led Dassault to discontinue these projects in 1974. The company then concentrated on the more cost-effective Falcon 25 design, which eventually matured into the Dassault Falcon 50 business jet.
The Falcon 30 prototype was dismantled; its fuselage was first donated to a technical institution and subsequently transferred to the Conservatoire de l'Air et de l'Espace d'Aquitaine museum. Dassault preserved the outer wing sections and later integrated them into a Falcon 20F aircraft in 1984.
References
External links
- "Dassault-Breguet 'Falcon' 30" at Aviafrance.