The Falcon 50 Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
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Dassault Aviation – P. Bowen
To meet U.S. demand for an aircraft with a longer range, a study for a new business jet was launched in early 1974.
The three-engine Falcon 50 made its maiden flight at Bordeaux-Mérignac on November 7, 1976, piloted by Hervé Leprince-Ringuet and Gérard Joyeuse.
It has several world firsts to its credit:
• The world’s first three-engine business jet;
• In December 1976, the company’s management decided to modify the prototype by equipping it with an optimized wing. The Falcon 50 became the world’s first civilian aircraft equipped with a so-called “supercritical” wing. Certification was granted on February 27, 1979;
• The Falcon 50 was the first business jet to receive both French and U.S. certifications, on March 8, 1979, for the production-series use of carbon-fiber composite control surfaces manufactured in Anglet;
• It was the first transoceanic aircraft in the Falcon family. Before it, no business jet could cross the Atlantic while meeting the standards required for commercial air transport.
The Falcon 50 appeals to American customers, who appreciate its transatlantic flight capabilities and its ability to operate from short runways, including at high altitudes and in hot weather. It has received certification to operate from London City Airport.
The upgraded 50EX model made its maiden flight in Mérignac 30 years ago, on April 10, 1996, piloted by Jean Bongiraud and Etienne Faurdessus.
The French Navy uses a modified version, known as the Triton, for maritime surveillance missions.
Of the 352 aircraft produced, more than 270 are still in service.
