DASSAULT CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF FALCON BUSINESS JETS

As its advanced new models prepare to take the stage, Dassault looks back at its six decades journey

By AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY

May 4, 2023, marked a significant milestone for Dassault Aviation as it celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Dassault Falcon 20, which later became the foundation of the renowned Falcon jet family.

In the aftermath of World War Two, the French government recognised the importance of the country’s aviation sector and encouraged French plane manufacturers to develop aircraft that could rival those of the United States and Great Britain. Dassault Aviation, already renowned for its sleek Mirage fighters, embraced this challenge and on May 4, 1963, introduced the Mystère 20, its first business jet. Recognising the potential in the American market, the aircraft was later rebranded as the Falcon 20. And today, after more than 2,700 business jets delivered, Dassault Aviation continues to uphold its tradition of crafting beautiful, advanced-technology aircraft.

Marcel Dassault, the founder of Dassault Aviation, famously stated, “For an aircraft to fly well, it must be beautiful.” This sentiment was embodied in the Falcon 20, which captivated aviation leaders such as Charles Lindbergh, Juan Trippe (CEO of Pan Am), and Fred Smith (founder of FedEx), states the aerospace manufacturer. “The formula has not changed. Every Dassault aircraft must have superb handling, beautiful lines, and rugged con- struction. And, of course, it has to provide state-of-the-art comfort,” said Dassault Aviation’s Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier.

The Falcon 20 became the precursor to 25 different model types, attracting not only entrepreneurs but also government agencies and armed forces worldwide. Its pioneering safety features, including the utilisation of robust fighter structures and systems, set new standards for safety advancements in the industry, including technologies like head-up cockpit displays and digital flight controls.

In 1966 the aircraft was first renamed the Dassault Fan Jet Falcon and soon after shortened to the Dassault Falcon 20. Over the coming years, various improvements were made, and because of the aircraft’s popularity, Dassault began work on variants like the smaller Falcon 10 and larger 30-seat Falcon 30. The Falcon 30 then led to the three-engined Falcon 50. In total, during its production run between 1965 and 1991, Dassault built 512 examples of the Falcon 20.

“Those past decades have allowed us to build the legacy and the technical grounds which makes us confident in our ability to develop future airplanes that fit our customer expectations. Sixty years on, Falcons are still completely distinctive in the business jet world: beautiful, delightful to fly, and always on the leading edge of technology, bringing safety, comfort, and productivity benefits to their operators,” said Trappier.

When The Bird Was Found

The inaugural flight of the Falcon 20 took place on May 4, 1963. The flight was scheduled later in the day due to the presence of Charles Lindbergh, who visited the Dassault assembly plant in Mérignac, France, to inspect the new business jet on behalf of