Dassault Falcon

The Dassault Falcon is a family of business jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation. July 2017 saw the 2,500th Falcon delivered – a Falcon 900LX – since the first Falcon 20 was handed over to a customer in 1965.[1] The fleet has accumulated 17.8 million hours of flight time with approximately 1,230 operators in 90 countries and as of July 2017 more than 2,100 Falcons are in service.[1] On 13 December 2017, Dassault abandoned the Silvercrest due to technical and schedule risks, ended the Falcon 5X development and launched a new Falcon with the same cross section, Pratt & Whitney Canada engines and a 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) range for a 2022 introduction.[2] Dassault offers the midsize Falcon 2000S/LXS twinjet, the long-range Falcon 900LX trijet and ultra-long range Falcon 7X/8X trijets.

A Falcon 900 behind a Falcon 2000

Aircraft

Model	Intro.	End	Range	Description
Falcon 10/100	1970	1989	1,920 nm	scaled down Falcon 20, later versions known as Falcon 100
Falcon 20/200	1963	1988	1,810 nm	original model in family of aircraft, later versions known as Falcon 200
Falcon 30/40	1973	1975	1,150 nm	enlarged 30-seat Falcon 20, prototype only, Falcon 40 outside North America
Falcon 50	1976	2008	3,220 nm	trijet derived from the Falcon 20
Dassault Falcon 5X	2017	2017	5,200 nm	new cross section twin jet discontinued due to Safran Silvercrest issues
Dassault Falcon 6X	2021	planned	5,500 nm	longer, heavier 5X, announced in feb. 2018[3]
Dassault Falcon 7X	2005	current	5,950 nm	trijet, development of the Falcon 900 with its cross-section
Dassault Falcon 8X	2016	current	6,450 nm	larger, improved Falcon 7X
Dassault Falcon 900	1984	current	4,750 nm	trijet, larger cross section development of the Falcon 50
Dassault Falcon 2000	1993	current	4,150 nm	scaled down Falcon 900 twinjet

Falcon X

Dassault intends to launch a new Falcon model at the end of 2017, focusing on enhanced comfort and reducing fuel consumption and noise.[4] JetNet iQ assumes this Falcon 9X would incorporate the Falcon 5X cross-section for comfort and lower takeoff weights thus lower-thrust engines than competition for lower noise, and favors a twin engine configuration for easier maintenance and to avoid redesigning the 5X.[5]

To lower fuel burn, it may extend the wing laminar flow portion as Dassault participates in the EU Clean Sky initiative with the Breakthrough laminar aircraft which should start flight testing in summer 2017. Wind tunnel testing of a U-shaped empennage could “mask” aircraft noise from the engines on the ground. Dassault will receive in late 2017 a machine tool for the development of new composite materials which should reduce aircraft maintenance needs and improve recycling. Within the Hycarus research project, a fuel cell will be flight tested by 2017 end to reduce the bleed air or accessory drive usage or eventually replace the auxiliary power unit.[6]

References

1. "Dassault Delivers 2,500th Falcon Business Jet" (Press release). Dassault Aviation. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
2. "Dassault confirms termination for 5X" (Press release). Dassault. 13 December 2017.
3. "Dassault Aviation Launches Falcon 6X" (Press release). Dassault Aviation. 2018-02-28.
4. "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Dassault Aviation. 2017-04-25. p. 5.
5. Chad Trautvetter (April 26, 2017). "Dassault Could Launch New Falcon Jet Later This Year". Aviation International News.
6. "Civil Aviation Programs To Watch". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Jun 9, 2017.

External links

• Official website