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Dassault Falcon 50

Dassault · Long-range Business Jet · France · Cold War (1970–1991)

The Dassault Falcon 50 was a French three-engine long-range business jet — Dassault's first transatlantic-range Falcon. Pierre Satre's design team developed the Falcon 50 in 1974-1976; the prototype first flew on 7 November 1976. About 352 Falcon 50s were built between 1978 and 2008 at Bordeaux-Mérignac. The aircraft served business + government VIP operators worldwide through 2026 — French Presidential transport flew Falcon 50s for several decades.

The Falcon 50 used 3 × Honeywell TFE731-3 turbofan engines (3,700 lbf each). Maximum speed 880 km/h, range 6,500 km, service ceiling 14,000 m. Capacity: 9 passengers + 2-3 crew. The aircraft's three-engine layout (one in each wingroot + one on the centreline) was unusual for a business jet — the trijet configuration gave the Falcon 50 better single-engine-out safety performance over oceanic flights than competing twin-engine aircraft + sufficient range for North Atlantic crossings.

Falcon 50 service was concentrated in worldwide business + government VIP operators. French Presidential transport flew 4 Falcon 50s for several decades (these are now replaced by larger A330s for the President + retained as government VIP transports). U.S. Coast Guard operated several Falcon 50s in maritime patrol role briefly. About 200 Falcon 50s remain in active service in 2026 across business + government / military operators worldwide. The Falcon 50EX upgraded variant continues in service through 2026.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Dassault Falcon 50 was France's first business jet that could cross the Atlantic Ocean without stopping. It had three engines instead of the usual two. One engine sat on each side of the body, and a third engine was in the tail.

The Falcon 50 first flew in November 1976. About 352 Falcon 50s were built between 1978 and 2008. The plane could carry 9 passengers and fly more than 4,000 miles in one trip.

Three engines gave the Falcon 50 a special advantage. If one engine failed during a long over-water flight, the plane still had two engines to keep flying. This was very useful for ocean crossings.

The Falcon 50 was used by the French president as his official plane for many years. The plane is about as long as a city bus. Its top speed was 545 mph. Today, the French president flies in a bigger Airbus, but Falcon 50s still serve many wealthy people and small governments around the world.

Fun Facts

The Falcon 50 was France's first transatlantic business jet.
It has three engines instead of the usual two.
About 352 Falcon 50s were built between 1978 and 2008.
The plane was used by the French president for many years.
It can fly more than 4,000 miles without stopping.
The Falcon 50 carries 9 passengers in a luxury cabin.

Kids’ Questions

Why three engines?

Long flights over the ocean can be risky if an engine fails — the plane could be hours from the nearest airport. With three engines, the Falcon 50 can lose one engine and still fly safely on the other two. This made it perfect for crossing oceans before twin-engine jets got safer.

Why did the French president stop using the Falcon 50?

The Falcon 50 was great for the French president from the 1980s into the 2000s, but it was small for a head of state. Modern presidents need more room for staff, security, and reporters. France now uses a bigger Airbus A330 for the president, like the United States uses Air Force One.

Variants

Falcon 50 (basic): Original 1978-1996 production. About 250 built.
Falcon 50EX (refined): Improved variant with TFE731-40 engines + range to 6,300 km. About 102 built 1996-2008.

Notable Operators

Worldwide business + government VIP operators: ~250 airframes in business + government VIP service worldwide.
French Presidential transport: 4 Falcon 50s in French Presidential / government VIP role through the 2010s. Now retained as backup transports after A330 acquisition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Falcon 50 have 3 engines?

Trans-Atlantic safety. The three-engine layout (one in each wingroot + one on the centreline) gives the Falcon 50 better single-engine-out safety performance over oceanic flights than competing twin-engine aircraft. Dassault's design philosophy favoured trijets for trans-Atlantic operations — the parent Falcon 20 had twin engines + insufficient range; the Falcon 50 added a third engine + the range required for non-stop North Atlantic crossings (e.g. Paris-New York).

Sources

Wikipedia — Dassault Falcon 50