Dassault Falcon 900

The Dassault Falcon 900 (originally Falcon Gros Fuselage ) is an dreistrahliges business aircraft from the Falcon series of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The first flight took place in 1984 and 1987, the first machine was handed over to a customer. Of the eight -built variants are still the two most recent, Falcon 900DX 900LX and manufactured. The Dassault Falcon 2000 is a scaled down version of the twin-engine Falcon 900 dar.

History

Beginning of the 1980s saw Dassault over with aircraft such as the Gulfstream III or the Challenger 601, the scored points especially with considerably more spacious cabins, increasing competition for his former top model Falcon 50. Therefore, we developed a completely new long-haul aircraft while retaining the basic design of the Falcon 50, the Falcon was initially Gros Fuselage ( to German in about Falcon with large trunk) called. The biggest change was - as indicated in the project name - the all-new cabin, which has a grown by around 80 % volume. In addition, more efficient and more powerful engines and an increased range. Adopted without significant changes, however, was the supercritical wing of the Falcon 50

The project was presented to the public in May 1983 and already on 21 September 1984 he was the first flight in Marignac. On March 14, 1986, the French air safety authority approved the drug and those of the FAA followed a week later. The first aircraft was delivered on 19 December 1986 to a customer.

By 2008, about 500 aircraft of different variants of the Falcon 900 were ordered, which were delivered about 400. At least 30 machines of which were ordered by governments and state agencies. The annual production rate is around 30 machines.

Technology

The Falcon 900 is a dreistrahliges business aircraft in low-wing design. The drive serve three TFE731 -5 engines of Honeywell International, said air inlet for the average engine S-shape is arranged (so-called S -Duct ). The range is 7000 km, the maximum speed of Mach 0.87, the maximum cruise speed at Mach 0.84 and the long-range cruise speed at Mach 0.75.

The cabin altitude was increased from 1.8 m to 1.88 m, which now enables continuous standing height, and the width has been increased by almost 50 cm to 2.35 m, which considerably increases the space available. Also contributes to the extension of the cab by almost 3 m to 10.11 m now. Overall, conventional Interior furnishing can eight to twelve people be offered at closer seating up to 15 people. At very close seating in three rows up to 19 people can be accommodated.

In the development, Dassault relied heavily on the self-developed CAD program CATIA, which exceeded the design simplified and accelerated. In particular, it was also possible to dispense with the construction of a model. From fighter aircraft division using time still new materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber and titanium was taken, what the characteristic of Dassault lightweight justified.

Versions

Falcon 900B

The 900B is a further development of improved and more efficient TFE731 - 5BR engines that allow a greater range. Specifically, the range increased by 400 km to 7400 km. In addition, the climb performance could be improved, which had proved in the original version on hot days as insufficient. With the introduction of the Falcon 900B in 1991, the production of the Falcon 900 has been discontinued. For customers of older machines an upgrade to the new engines were offered what was taken for most aircraft will claim. The first flight of the Falcon 900B was made in 1985 - even before the first Falcon 900 was handed over to a customer.

Falcon 900C

The C variant is aerodynamically identical to the 900B, but the revised Primus 2000 cockpit of the 900EX has been adopted, but without accepting the other improvements. The 900C lifted on 17 December 1998 from the first time and the beginning of 2000 the first machine was handed over to a customer.

Falcon 900EX

The EX version is a comprehensive modernization in contrast to 900C. The model was presented to the public in October 1994, flew in June 1995 for the first time and was approved in May 1996. As the drive again improved TFE731 -60 engine, which provides a slight increase in power and an increase in efficiency is used. The latter increased along with additional fuel tanks, the range of approximately 8800 km. Was also redesigned the cockpit, where now a glass cockpit type Primus 2000 comes from Honeywell for use. This can be ordered as an option with a Head - Up Display. The 900EX was always built parallel to another variant, initially to 900B, then to 900C and finally to 900DX. The long range Falcon 900EX made ​​the also popular with governments; the German Federal Intelligence Service also has such aircraft with the registration D - AZEM (see opposite).

The Falcon 900EX EASy is identical to the 900EX up to the cockpit. In the cockpit, a new glass cockpit with four color screens is used, which was developed by Dassault and Honeywell together under the name EASy. The first flight was made in 2002.

Falcon 900DX

The 900DX largely corresponds to the EX EASy, but without the additional tanks, so that the range is lower. Accordingly, the costs are lower and therefore replaces the Falcon 900C. The project was presented in May 2004, on 13 May of the same year raised from the model for the first time in October and the 900DX was approved.

Falcon 900LX

In May 2008, the last time being version was announced with the 900LX. The LX is based on the EX, but has blended winglets from Aviation Partners Inc. (API ), making the span increases by 2.06 m and the efficiency is improved by around 5 %. The maximum range increases accordingly by about 400 to about 8,800 km. The originally promised range of 8890 km was missed. Also could not be achieved the goal to equip the LX from the start with the new EASy II cockpit, which is currently being developed by Dassault, in cooperation with Honeywell. Instead, now it should be available in 2011 or 2012. The approval was granted in June 2010, however, the flight tests are still continued to achieve an approval for CAT III approaches. For existing Falcon 900EX winglets the LX will be available as a retrofit kit, with which these same flight performance to be achieved as in newly built LX.

Falcon 900MSA

To the Japanese agency Maritime Security Agency two maritime patrol aircraft have been delivered, received as special equipment including a radar, an infrared device and an operating station.

Under the name Falcon Dassault 900Mpa marketed a similar but more modern aircraft, which is especially equipped with the Search Water radar from Thales. So far, no buyer could be won.

Specifications

Comparable models

France Bombardier Challenger 600 series Dassault Falcon 50 Trijet Computer-aided design Bundesnachrichtendienst Gulfstream G400/G450 Dassault Hirondelle Mirage (aircraft) Dassault Falcon 7X Dassault Falcon 10 Dassault Mercure Dassault Balzac V Dassault Mirage III Dassault Mirage IIIV Dassault Mirage IV Dassault Mirage 5 Dassault Mirage F1 Dassault Mirage G Dassault Mirage 2000 Dassault Mirage 4000 Dassault Neuron
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