Dassault Falcon 20

Falcon 20 (Mystère 20) HU-25 Guardian
Civilian Falcon 20
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
First flight	4 May 1963
Introduction	3 Jun 1965
Status	Out of production, in active service
Primary users	Federal Express French Navy United States Coast Guard Cobham Aviation
Produced	1963-1988
Number built	508
Variants	Dassault Falcon 10 Dassault Falcon 50

The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.

Design and development

Marcel Dassault gave the go-ahead for production of an eight or ten seat executive jet or military liaison aircraft the Dassault-Breguet Mystère 20 in December 1961. The Mystère 20 was a low-wing monoplane with two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8 engines. The prototype, registered F-WLKB, first flew on the 4 May 1963 at Bordeaux-Merignac. Under the influence of Pan American the aircraft was re-engined with two General Electric CF700 engines and some dimensions were increased. Pan American signed a contract to distribute the Mystère 20 in the western hemisphere and ordered 40 aircraft with options on 120. The re-engined aircraft first flew on 10 July 1964. The first production aircraft flew on 1 January 1965 and both French and American certification was awarded in June 1965. On the 10th June 1965, Jacqueline Auriol set the women's world record speed in the first Mystère 20 prototype, F-WLKB, with an average speed of 859 kilometers per hour over 1000 km. This prototype was used in the 1966 comedy, How to Steal a Million, starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. The Deliveries began to the Pan American outfitting facility at Burbank Airport, California. In 1966 the company re-designated the American-delivered aircraft as the Fan Jet Falcon, this later became the Falcon 20. Military orders from Australia and Canada were received. All non-American aircraft were fitted out before delivery at Bordeaux-Merignac. In 1967 Pan American Business Jets Division increased their firm orders to 160 aircraft.

Some Falcon 20s powered by General Electric CF700 engines were reengined with Garrett TFE731 engines under AMD-BA Service Bulletin No. 731. These aircraft were redesignated with a "-5" after the model number. Volpar, Inc. worked on a program to reengine Falcon 20s with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engines, but the program was abandoned before a FAA STC was awarded.

FAA Supplemental Type Certificate SA5858SW, held by Dassault Falcon Jet allows the installation of underwing pylons on the Fan Jet Falcon, Fan Jet Falcon Series D and Fan Jet Falcon Series E. This modification is commonly used to modify Falcon 20s to operate as special mission aircraft with underwing stores.

The improved Falcon 200 featured more advanced jet engines and other major improvements to increase range, capacity and comfort. The aircraft proved to be so popular that production did not end until 1988, being superseded by more advanced developments of the Falcon family. The United States Coast Guard operates a model called the HU-25 Guardian which is used as a high-speed spotter aircraft to locate shipwreck survivors and direct slower-moving aircraft and rescue vessels, and interdict aerial and shipborne drug trafficking. The Falcon 20G, HU-25 and Falcon 200 were powered by Garrett ATF3 engines. A total of 473 Falcon 20s and 35 Falcon 200s were built by the time production ended in 1988.

Later developments of the Falcon 20 include the smaller Falcon 10, the larger 30-seat Falcon 30 (not developed) and Falcon 50, an improved three-engined development.

In 2012, a Falcon 20 became the first civil jet to fly on 100% biofuel when it performed a test flight for Canada's National Research Council.

Variants

Falcon 20DC freighter of Bancjet Systems at Burbank airport near Los Angeles in September 1986. Note deleted cabin windows

A USCG HU-25 Guardian

Mystère/Falcon 20

Prototype, one built. F-WLKB. Now stored at Musée Air et Espace Aéroport Paris - Le Bourget.

Mystère/Falcon 20C

Initial production version. known originally as the Standard Falcon 20 both examples converted to D model.

Falcon 20CC

One aircraft similar to the Falcon 20C, equipped with low-pressure tyres.

Mystère/Falcon 20D

Higher thrust engines (General Electric CF700-2D) and lower fuel consumption and more fuel capacity.

Mystère/Falcon 20E

Higher thrust engines (General Electric CF700-2D-2), higher zero fuel weight.

Mystère/Falcon 20F

Full leading edge slats and more fuel capacity.

Falcon 20FH

This was the original designation of the Falcon 200 prototype.

Falcon 20G

Maritime patrol and surveillance version, equipped with two Garrett AiResearch ATF3-6-2C turbofan engines.

Falcon 20H

This was the original designation of the Falcon 200.

Falcon 200

Improved variant, powered by two 2360-kg (5,200-lb) Garrett ATF3-6A-4C turbofan engines and with more fuel. First flown 30 April 1980.

Falcon ST

This designation was given to two Falcon 20s used by the French Air Force as systems training aircraft. The aircraft were equipped with the combat radar and navigation systems of the Mirage IIIE.

HU-25A Guardian

United States Coast Guard version of the Falcon 20G. 41 built. Equipped with two Garrett AiResearch Garrett ATF3-6-2C turbofan engines.

HU-25B Guardian

Pollution control version for the US Coast Guard equipped with side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) under fuselage. Seven converted from HU-25As.

HU-25C Guardian

Drug interdiction version for the US Coast Guard, equipped with a Westinghouse APG-66 search radar and WF-360 Forward looking infrared turret. Nine HU-25As converted.

HU-25C+ Guardian

Upgrade of HU-25C, with improved AN/APG-66(V)2 radar and new FLIR turret. All nine HU-25Cs converted.

HU-25D Guardian

Upgraded HU-25A, with AN/APS-143B(V)3 Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) and same FLIR as HU-25C+. 15 upgraded.

Guardian 2

Maritime patrol and surveillance version of the Falcon 200. Never put into production.

CC-117

Canadian military designation of Falcon 20C from 1970.

Fan Jet Falcon

The Falcon 20 was marketed in North America under this name.

Falcon Cargo Jet

Conversion of Falcon 20 to light cargo aircraft. Large numbers purchased/converted by Federal Express for overnight courier service.

Falcon 20C-5, 20D-5, 20E-5, 20F-5

Falcon 20 aircraft equipped with Garrett TFE-731-5AR-2C or TFE-731-5BR-2C engines. Also includes adaptation of bleed air, anti-ice, hydraulic, fuel, electrical and engine control systems and installation of ATTCS (automatic takeoff thrust control system).

Operators

Dassault Falcon 20

Spanish Air Force Falcon 20D in 1981

A Pakistan Air Force electronic warfare aircraft.

Civilian operators

Mexico

• Private

United States

• USA Jet Airlines
• Kalitta Charters

France

• Aerovision

• Cobham plc

Former Civilian operators

Lebanon

• Government of Lebanon

United States

• Grand Aire Express
• Phoenix Air
• Fedex Express

Military operators

Belgium

• Belgian Air Component (2 x 20E operated from 1973)

Djibouti

• Djibouti Air Force

Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force

France

• French Navy

Iran

• Imperial Iranian Air Force
• Imperial Iranian Navy
• Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps

Norway

• Royal Norwegian Air Force

Pakistan

• Pakistan Air Force - Three aircraft in service as of January 2013.
  • No. 24 Squadron Blinders

Spain

• Spanish Air Force

Sudan

• Sudanese Air Force

Syria

• Syrian Air Force

Tunisia

• Tunisian Air Force

United States

• United States Coast Guard

Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force

Former operators

Algeria

Angola

Australia

• Royal Australian Air Force - Three in service from 1967 to 1989.
  • No. 34 Squadron RAAF

Canada

• Royal Canadian Air Force
• Canadian Forces

Central African Republic

Chile

• Chilean Navy

France

• French Air Force

Guinea-Bissau

• Military of Guinea-Bissau

Ivory Coast

Jordan

• Royal Jordanian Air Force
• Jordanian Royal Flight

Lebanon

• Lebanese Air Force

Libya

• Libyan Air Force (Mirage Weapons Trainer)

Morocco

Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan Air Force

Oman

• Oman Royal Flight

Panama

• Panamanian Public Forces

Peru

• Peruvian Air Force

Portugal

• Portuguese Air Force

South Africa

• South African Air Force

Specifications (Falcon 20F)

Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 8-14 passengers
• Length: 17.15 m (56 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 16.30 m (53 ft 6 in)
• Height: 5.32 m (17 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 41.0 m² (440 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,530 kg (16,600 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 13,000 kg (28,660 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CF700-2D-2 turbofan, 20 kN (4,500 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 862 km/h (465 knots, 536 mph) (max cruise) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
• Cruise speed: 750 km/h (405 knots, 466 mph) (econ cruise) at 12,200m (40,000 ft)
• Stall speed: 152 km/h (82 knots, 95 mph)
• Range: 3,350 km (1,808 naut mi, 2,080 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,800 m (42,000 ft) (absolute)

See also

• Dassault Falcon 10
• Dassault Falcon 50
• Raytheon Hawker 800
• List of civil aircraft

References

Notes

Bibliography

• "HU-25 "Guardian" Medium Range Surveillance Aircraft". Aircraft and Cutters. U.S. Coast Guard. 2007-02-16. http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/hu-25.asp. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
• Gates, Brian (1978). Falcon Mystere 20 Production History. Leicester, England: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-12-1. 
• Kaminski, Tom (2007). "Dassault HU-25: The Coast Guard's Guardian". Westport, Connecticut, USA: AIRtime Publishing. pp. pp. 102–115. ISBN 1-880588-79-X. ISSN 1473-9917. 
• Michell, Simon (1994). Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7. 
• Taylor, John W.R. (1980). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81. London: Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-0705-9. 
• Taylor, John W.R. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5. 

• "Collections Prototypes: Dassault Mystère 20 01 F-WLKB Musée Air et Espace Aéroport Paris - Le Bourget". Dassault Mystère 20 01 F-WLKB. Musée Air et Espace Aéroport Paris - Le Bourget. 2010-04-19. http://www.museeairespace.fr/c/p/mystere-20-f-wlkb/presentation/. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 

External links

• Dassault Falcon 20 (ELINT/ECM)