Falcon 10
French light business jet, known for corporate transportation from the late 20th century, with wide usage worldwide. Key figures: top speed 907 km/h, range 3,555 km, service ceiling 13,716 m, max takeoff weight 8,500 kg, unit price $1.6M, built 226. In service with 1 air force as of 2026 — France (6).
| Length | 13.9 m (45.5 ft) |
| Wingspan | 13.1 m (42.9 ft) |
| Height | 4.6 m (15.1 ft) |
| Wing area | 24.1 m² (259.4 sqft) |
| Empty weight | 5,055 kg (11,144 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 8,500 kg (18,739 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turbofans Honeywell TFE731-2-1C 1,506 kgf each |
| Maximum speed | 907 km/h (564 mph) |
| Operational range | 3,555 km (2,209 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 13,716 m (45,000 ft) |
| Climb rate | 23.4 m/s (76.8 ft/s) |
| Takeoff distance | 1,356 m (4,449 ft) |
Description
The Dassault Mystère/Falcon 10 is a light corporate jet developed by the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, produced from 1971 to 1989 and operated in small numbers as a military liaison and training aircraft, notably by the French Navy. Despite its designation, it was developed after the Falcon 20, and while often described as a scaled-down derivative of that aircraft, it was a redesign rather than a direct reduction. It carries two crew and four to seven passengers.
Development
The aircraft was originally named Minifalcon. Although sometimes treated as a smaller Falcon 20, it was completely redesigned, with a non-circular fuselage, a new wing fitted with slotted flaps, a split passenger door and numerous simplified systems compared with the earlier type. Production began in 1971 and ended in 1989. The type remains in use on the second-hand market; by 2018, 1970s-built Falcon 10s were priced at $300,000 to $600,000.
Design
The Falcon 10 has a non-circular fuselage cross-section and a wing of 24.1 m² area with an aspect ratio of 7.1:1, fitted with slotted flaps. Length is 13.85 m, wingspan 13.08 m and height 4.61 m. Empty weight is 4,880 kg and maximum takeoff weight 8,500 kg, with a fuel capacity of 3,340 litres. Power comes from two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofans rated at 14.4 kN each. Maximum cruise speed is 915 km/h, maximum Mach number 0.87, and range 3,555 km. The later Series 100 introduced a glass cockpit.
Operational History
The French Navy received seven Falcon 10 MER aircraft, used as instrument trainers, VIP transports, and communications and liaison aircraft. As of December 2020, six remained operational with Escadrille 57S. Morocco has also operated the type in military service. Civil operators have included Air Nunavut in Canada and the Government of Croatia, the latter a former operator.
Variants
- Minifalcon: Original designation of the Dassault Falcon 10.
- Falcon 10: Baseline executive transport aircraft.
- Falcon 10MER: Seven aircraft delivered to the French Navy as instrument trainers, VIP transports and communications/liaison aircraft; MER stood for "Marine Entraînement Radar" (Navy Radar Training).
- Falcon 100: Replacement for the Falcon 10, with increased takeoff weight, a larger luggage compartment and a glass cockpit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- AUG 302026 Updated Description updated
- AUG 52026 Updated Powerplant updated in a site-wide editorial pass
- APR 72026 Updated Sources and cross-references refreshed
- JAN 122026 Updated Range updated in a site-wide editorial pass