(Image credit: VAN)
On this day in aviation history, 55 years ago (December 14, 1970), the Dassault Falcon 10 flew for the first time. The Falcon 10 is a corporate jet, an earlier development from French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Although referred to as the Model 10, this aircraft was developed after the Model 20. This has led to some confusion amongst aviation enthusiasts, leading many to believe that the Falcon 10 is a “scaled-down” Falcon 20.
The Falcon 10 is not a smaller Falcon 20. The aircraft is an entirely redesigned aircraft, featuring a non-circular fuselage, a completely redesigned wing (with slotted flaps), and a split passenger door. Dassault began production of the Falcon 10 in 1971 and built airframes until 1989. A total of 226 Falcon 10s were built in this span. Although this model is no longer built, it is still supported and is a popular “second-hand” jet in the corporate aviation world. Falcon 10s can currently be acquired for around $500,000 USD.
Dassault’s Falcon 10 is still operated by Air Nunavut, an Inuit-owned airline in Canada. The French Navy flies six Falcon 10s with Escadrille 57S as instrument trainers and utility aircraft. Morocco flies the Falcon 10 still, in a general-purpose role. The aircraft is powered by two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engines, each with 3,230 pounds of thrust. A Falcon 10 will attain max cruise airspeed at 569 mph, Mach 0.87. A crew of 2 flies this Dassault business jet, which can carry 4 to 7 passengers within a range of 1,920 nautical miles.
