Falcon 900

The Dassault Falcon 900 is a French business trijet built by Dassault Aviation. It first flew on 21 September 1984 and was certified by French and US authorities in 1986. Beyond civil corporate use, it serves as a government and VIP transport with more than a dozen air arms, and in one case as a maritime patrol platform. More than 500 had been built by October 2012, and production continues.

Development

The Falcon 900 was derived from the Falcon 50, itself a development of the Falcon 20, retaining the three-engine layout. The 900B replaced the original model in 1991 with uprated engines and greater range, followed by the long-range 900EX in 1996 and the 900C in 2000. The 900EX EASy, built from 2004 to 2009, introduced Honeywell/Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics; the shorter-range 900DX used the same engines. At EBACE 2008 Dassault announced the 900LX, fitted with high-Mach blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc. In 2023 the equipped price of the 900LX was $44.7 million. The type was developed into the Falcon 2000 and Falcon 7X.

Design

The Falcon 900 is a low-wing trijet with a cruciform tail and retractable tricycle landing gear; the airframe incorporates composite materials. The original model used three Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofans of 20 kN each, the 900B TFE731-5BR-1C engines of 21.13 kN, and the 900EX and later variants TFE731-60 engines of 22.24 kN. The 900EX used Honeywell Primus avionics, while the 900EX EASy and subsequent variants use the Primus Epic EASy all-glass flight deck. The 900B has a length of 20.21 m, a wingspan of 19.33 m, a wing area of 49.0 m², an empty weight of 10,255 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 20,640 kg, with a crew of two and up to 19 passengers. Cruise speed is 950 km/h at 36,000 ft, range 7,400 km with eight passengers, and service ceiling 15,500 m; the 900LX has a range of 4,750 nmi. The Falcon 900 MSA for the Japan Coast Guard carries search radar and a hatch for dropping rescue stores.

Operational History

In France the type is flown by Transport Squadron 60 for government transport. The Italian Air Force has operated five Falcon 900EX since 2005 under the designations VC-900A and VC-900B. The RAF's 32 (The Royal) Squadron took two civil-registered 900LXs on civil contract from March 2022, with full military operation planned from 2026. Other military operators include the Bolivian Air Force (900EX FAB-001 as presidential aircraft), the German Bundesnachrichtendienst, Japan Coast Guard, Namibia, Nigeria, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland (900EX EASy II), Syria, the UAE and Venezuela. Former users include the RAAF, which flew five with No. 34 Squadron from 1989 to 2003, the Belgian Air Component until 2019, Algeria, Gabon, Greece, Malaysia, Monaco and Malawi, which sold its 900EX in 2013. On 14 September 1999 Olympic Airways Flight 3838, a Falcon 900B on descent to Bucharest, suffered pilot-induced oscillations after autopilot disengagement, killing seven passengers including Greek deputy foreign minister Giannos Kranidiotis.

Variants

• Falcon 900: Original production version announced in 1984, powered by three 20 kN Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofans.
• Falcon 900B: Revised version from 1991 with 21.13 kN TFE731-5BR-1C engines and increased range.
• Falcon 900EX: Long-range variant with 22.24 kN TFE731-60 engines, Honeywell Primus avionics and 4,500 nmi range, in service from 1996.
• Falcon 900EX EASy: Built 2004–2009 with Honeywell/Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics.
• Falcon 900LX: Current production variant of the EX with blended winglets and 4,750 nmi range, designated Envoy IV in RAF service.