The Dassault Falcon 50 is a French-built super mid-sized, long-range corporate jet, featuring a three jet engine layout with an S-duct central engine. It has the same fuselage cross section and similar capacity as the earlier Falcon 20 twinjet but is a completely new design that is Area ruled and includes a more advanced wing design.
The first prototype flew on 7 November 1976, with French airworthiness certification on 27 February 1979, followed by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification on 7 March 1979. Dassault developed a maritime surveillance and environmental protection version as the Gardian 50.
The Falcon 50 was later replaced by the Falcon 50EX, the first of which flew in 1996, and the last of which was delivered in 2008. The Falcon 50EX features improved engines and other enhancements to give further range improvements to an already long-legged jet. It remains a very popular corporate jet for its long-range, luxury, and for the recognition of status for owning a fast three-engined jet.
The last Falcon 50EX was built in late 2007 and delivered in early 2008.
Successors of the Falcon 50 are the Falcon 7X and the Falcon 900 featuring a larger fuselage and the same three-engine arrangement. Dassault announced in January 2008 what is essentially a replacement aircraft for the Falcon 50, codenamed the "SMS" (Super Mid Size). The basic design process, including engine select was supposed to be completed by the early 2009. However, in a June 2009 press conference, CEO Charles Edelstenne said that all design choices had been reopened and the goal was intended to the end of the year.
Dassault and Aviation Partners Inc. have announced that High Mach blended winglets were being developed for the Falcon 50 as a retrofit kit.
50 - Three 16.5kN (3700lb) AlliedSignal TFE7313 turbofans. 50EX - Three 16.5kN (3700lb) TFE73140s.
50 - Max cruising speed 880km/h (475kt), long range cruising speed
797km/h (430kt). Max operating altitude 45,000ft. Range with eight
passengers and reserves 5715km (3084nm). 50EX - Range with eight
passengers at Mach 0.80 5600km (3025nm), at Mach 0.75 6046km (3265nm).
50 - Empty equipped 9150kg (20,170lb), standard max takeoff 17,600kg
(38,800lb), or optionally 18,500kg (40,780lb). 50EX - Empty equipped
9603kg (21,270lb), max takeoff 18,005kg (39,700lb).
Wing span 18.86m (61ft 11in), length 18.52m (61ft 11in), height 6.98m (22ft 11in). Wing area 46.8m2 (504.1sq ft).
Flightcrew of two pilots. A number of cabin seating arrangements
offered. Seating for eight or nine with aft toilet, or for up to 12 with
forward toilet. Max accommodation for 19. Can accommodate three
stretchers, two medical attendants and medical equipment in a medevac
role.
More than 275 have been delivered since 1979.
Long range mid size corporate jet
The trijet Falcon 50 is a very substantial long range upgrade based on the earlier twinjet Mystère/Falcon 20 and 200 family.
The
Dassault Falcon 50 was developed for long range trans Atlantic and
transcontinental flight sectors, using the Falcon 20 as the design
basis. However, to meet the 6440km (3475nm) range requirement
significant changes mean that the Falcon 50 is for all intents and
purposes an all new aircraft.
Key
new features include three 16.6kN (3700lb) Garrett TFE731 turbofans, in
place of the Falcon 20's two General Electric CF700s, mounted on a new
area ruled tail section, plus a new supercritical wing of greater area
than that on the 20 and 200. Falcon 20 components retained include the
nose and fuselage cross section.
The
first flight of the prototype Falcon 50 occurred in November 1976,
although it wasn't until March 7 1979 that FAA certification was
granted. In the meantime the design had been changed to incorporate the
supercritical wing, although the original wing's basic planform was
retained. A second prototype first flew on February 18 1978, the first
preproduction aircraft following on June 13 1978. First customer
deliveries began in July 1979.
In
April 1995 Dassault announced the long range Falcon 50EX with more fuel
efficient TFE73140 turbofans, 740km (400nm) greater range (at Mach
0.80) than the base Falcon 50 and a new EFIS flightdeck based on the
Falcon 2000's with Collins Pro Line 4 avionics. The 50EX also features
as standard equipment items offered as options only on the standard
Falcon 50.
The
Falcon 50EX's maiden flight was on April 10 1996, with French and US
certification in November and December 1996 respectively. First delivery
(to Volkswagen) was in the following January.
The Surmar is a maritime patrol version of the 50 ordered by the French navy (fitted with a FLIR and search radar).
