The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900, is a French-built corporate trijet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation.
Development
The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The Falcon 900 airframe design incorporates composite materials.
Other models include the Falcon 900-B, featuring an increased range, and the Falcon 900EX featuring other improvements in engines and range and an all-glass flight deck. The Falcon 900C is a companion to the Falcon 900EX and replaces the Falcon 900B. Later versions are the Falcon 900EX EASy, and the Falcon 900DX. At EBACE 2008, Dassault announced another development of the 900 series: the Falcon 900LX, incorporating high mach blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc.
In 2023, the 900LX equipped price was $44.7 million.
Operational service
In France, the Falcon 900 is used by the Transport Squadron 60 (Transportation, Training and Calibration Squadron 65), which is in charge of transportation for officials in France.
Variants
Announced in 1984, original production. Powered by three Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan jet engines. It was certified in 1986 by French and U.S. aviation authorities.
Falcon 900 MSA
Maritime patrol version for Japan Coast Guard; this variant is equipped with search radar and a hatch for dropping rescue stores.
Falcon 900B
Revised production version from 1991, powered by TFE731-5BR-1C engines.
Falcon 900C
Replacement for 900B, introduced in 2000.
Long range version with engines; this variant features TFE731-60 engines, with a range of . Avionics by Honeywell Primus. It entered service in 1996.
Falcon 900EX EASy
Long range version produced from 2004 to 2009; fitted with Honeywell / Dassault Primus Epic EASy avionics. TFE731-60 engines.
Falcon 900DX
Shorter-range production type with TFE731-60 engines.
Falcon 900LX
Current production variant of EX fitted with blended winglets; range of .
Envoy IV
Royal Air Force military designation for the 900LX.
VC-900A
Italian military designation for the 900EX.
VC-900B
Italian military designation for the 900EX EASy.
Operators
Civil operators
A wide range of private owners, businesses, and small airlines operate Falcon 900s.
Military operators
Former operators
Accidents and incidents
- On 14 September 1999, Olympic Airways Flight 3838, a Falcon 900B (registered SX-ECH) operating for the Hellenic Air Force by Olympic Airways, was descending to land at Bucharest, Romania, when the autopilot disengaged and several pilot-induced oscillations occurred. The impact of unfastened passengers with the cabin and aircraft furniture resulted in fatal injuries to seven passengers, serious injuries to two, and minor to another two. Among the victims was Giannos Kranidiotis, then deputy foreign minister for Greece.
- On 13 February 2021, a Falcon 900EX corporate jet (N823RC) experienced a landing gear collapse after an aborted takeoff at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, California. Although the aircraft sustained significant damage, all five occupants on board escaped without injuries. The flight crew explained that during the takeoff attempt, the captain applied back pressure to the control yoke, but the nose failed to rotate to a takeoff position. After multiple attempts, the captain decided to reject the takeoff by reducing thrust and applying maximum brakes. As a result, the aircraft overshot the runway and the landing gear collapsed upon reaching a gravel pad. The NTSB investigation revealed that the captain did not possess a valid pilot certificate due to an emergency revocation by the FAA two years earlier. This revocation occurred because the captain had falsified logbook entries and records for pilot proficiency checks, competency checks, and training events while serving as a check pilot for a Part 135 operator.
Specifications (Falcon 900B)
See also
References
External links