Dassault Falcon 20
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1963 · transport aircraft
The Falcon 20 was Dassault's entry into the business jet market and one of the first purpose-built bizjets from a European manufacturer.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Compact, stubby fuselage with twin rear-mounted engines — much shorter body than later Falcons |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compact, stubby fuselage with twin rear-mounted engines — much shorter body than later Falcons
- Prominent T-tail and wide oval cabin windows giving a rounded, businesslike silhouette
- Squared-off nose and minimal winglet treatment distinguish it from the sleeker Falcon 50/900
The Falcon 20 is much shorter and stubbier than its successor the Falcon 50; against the similarly-sized Learjet 25 it shows a wider, oval fuselage cross-section and very different T-tail geometry.
Specifications
- The Dassault Falcon 20 has a length of 17.15 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.3 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 862 km/h (536 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in May 1963, the Falcon 20 was developed with significant input from Pan American Business Jets and sold strongly through the late 1960s and 1970s. Over 500 were built across several sub-variants before production ended in 1988. Federal Express operated a large fleet as freighters, helping establish the type's rugged reputation.
Variants
The series ran from the original Falcon 20 through the 20C, 20D, 20E, and 20F with progressively more powerful engines; the 20G was optimised for US Navy utility operations.
Where you'll see it
Still occasionally seen at UK bizjet hubs such as Farnborough and Biggin Hill with legacy operators; the type remains airworthy in modest numbers across Europe.
Related aircraft
- Dassault Balzac V
- Dassault Mirage IIIV
- Dassault Mirage F1
- Dassault Mirage IIIC
- Beechcraft King Air C90B
- Beechcraft U-21 Ute
- C-141 Starlifter
- Dassault Falcon 20F
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