Dassault Falcon 900
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 22, 1929 in France |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Falcon 900 corporate jet, among others |
| Website | www |
The Dassault Falcon 900, often referred to as the F900, is a corporate trijet aircraft manufactured in France by Dassault Aviation.
Development
Derived from the Dassault Falcon 50, which itself evolved from the Dassault Falcon 20, the Falcon 900 features an airframe that utilizes composite materials to boost both durability and overall performance.
The lineup includes variants such as the Falcon 900B, offering extended range, and the Falcon 900EX, which boasts enhanced engines, increased range, and a fully glass flight deck. The Falcon 900C succeeded the 900B, while subsequent models comprise the Falcon 900EX EASy and the Falcon 900DX. At EBACE 2008, Dassault unveiled the Falcon 900LX, incorporating high mach blended winglets developed by Aviation Partners Inc. to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.
By 2023, the equipped price for the Falcon 900LX was approximately $44.7 million.
Operational service
Within France, the Falcon 900 is utilized by the Transport Squadron 60 (Transportation, Training and Calibration Squadron 65), which handles official transport duties.
Variants
- Introduced in 1984, this initial model was powered by three Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan engines and received certification from French and U.S. aviation authorities in 1986.
- Falcon 900 MSA
- A maritime patrol adaptation for the Japan Coast Guard, equipped with search radar and a hatch for deploying rescue equipment.
- Falcon 900B
- Produced from 1991 onward with updated TFE731-5BR-1C engines.
- Falcon 900C
- Launched in 2000 as a successor to the 900B.
- A long-range variant featuring TFE731-60 engines and avionics supplied by Honeywell Primus. Entered operational service in 1996.
- Falcon 900EX EASy
- Manufactured between 2004 and 2009, equipped with Honeywell/Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics and TFE731-60 engines.
- Falcon 900DX
- A model designed for shorter ranges, powered by TFE731-60 engines.
- Falcon 900LX
- The latest production version of the EX model, fitted with blended winglets and offering extended range.
- Envoy IV
- The designation used by the Royal Air Force for their Falcon 900LX aircraft.
- VC-900A
- Italian military designation assigned to the Falcon 900EX.
- VC-900B
- Italian military designation corresponding to the Falcon 900EX EASy.
Civil operators
Numerous private individuals, corporations, and smaller airlines operate Falcon 900 aircraft.
Accidents and incidents
- On September 14, 1999, a Falcon 900B (registration SX-ECH) operating as Olympic Airways Flight 3838 for the Hellenic Air Force experienced autopilot disengagement followed by pilot-induced oscillations during descent into Bucharest, Romania. Several unsecured passengers were injured, and seven fatalities occurred, including Greek deputy foreign minister Giannos Kranidiotis.
- On February 13, 2021, a Falcon 900EX corporate jet (N823RC) suffered a landing gear collapse after an aborted takeoff at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, California. Despite substantial damage to the aircraft, all five occupants escaped without injury. The incident resulted from the captain’s failure to rotate the nose during takeoff, leading to a rejected takeoff and runway overrun. Subsequent investigation revealed that the captain did not hold a valid pilot certificate due to prior FAA revocation related to falsification of training records while acting as a check pilot.