The 9 Best Dassault Jets, From Long-Range Planes to a Fighter Jet
Dassault Aviation’s founder, Marcel Bloch, a Paris-based engineer, industrialist, and aviation inventor, officially entered the golden era of aviation in 1929, just two months after the New York Stock Exchange crashed on Wall Street. During his career, Bloch’s glide path was anything but smooth—from a manufacturer of aircraft under the Bloch name, then serving as France’s Minister of Aviation, and finally imprisoned in a concentration camp during the Nazi occupation of France during WWII. Bloch proved to be as resilient and durable as the aircraft his company makes today. After the war, he changed his last name to Dassault and rebuilt the company.
The fledgling airframe maker, incorporating three previous factories in Saint-Cloud, Boulogne and Talence, re-established itself under very rough conditions in war-torn France, The company proved over the years to be the only French aviation firm to supply combat aircraft for France’s defense needs. Through 1975, it produced 20 different aircraft types, as well as prototypes that never entered service. By 1949, it had launched its MD 450 Ouragan, the first production jet fighter to be exported. Two years later, it launched the Mystère II, the first French warbird to break the sound barrier in a dive. Its Mirage, Mystère, Balzac, and later Rafale series gained worldwide fame as effective fighter jets. In 1963, the Mystère Falcon 20 became its first business jet.
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Since then, its Falcon line has become a worldwide leader, assembled at its French facilities at Bordeaux-Merignac and Paris-Le Bourget airports. Dassault has kept apace of its two largest competitors, Gulfstream and Bombardier, matching the U.S. and Canadian aviation firms with ever-larger, luxurious and more technical model lines, all the way up to its ultra-long-range Falcon 10X flagship, expected to enter service in 2027.
But Dassault has forged a unique path by integrating advances and technologies from its military aircraft into its business jets. It has the numbers to prove it: 23,000 employees, 710 global patents, thousands of military and business jets in operation, and $6.68 billion in annual revenues.
Here are nine of our favorite Falcons.
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Falcon 20/Mystère 20
With a nickname of Lone Eagle, Charles Lindbergh was anything but following his famous first nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. It is ironic that Lindbergh was later credited with connecting New York-based Pan American Airways and Paris-based Dassault, which blossomed into a partnership to launch another first in business aviation—the Dassault Falcon 20.
Success was almost immediate. First introduced as Dassault Breguet Mystère 20 in 1965, the company’s mid-size business jet was an eight- to 10-seat, low-wing monoplane equipped with a pair of GE CF700 turbofan jet engines. Not only was the Falcon 20 easy to fly, but it also had visual appeal with a highly swept-wing design drawing from Dassault’s Mystère IV fighter bomber. Even with a modest range by today’s standards of 2,081 nautical miles at a maximum speed of 536 mph, the aircraft resulted in numerous iterations, including the Falcon 200 and Falcon 30. More than 500 aircraft were produced over its 26-year production period ending in 1991.
Mystère 10/Falcon 10/Falcon 100
Near the end of the 1960s, Pan American airlines was interested in a smaller, lower-cost version of the Mystere 20. Designed for four to seven passengers, the Mystère 10 would be equipped with new jet engines that were more fuel efficient. A more advanced model became the Falcon 10 in 1983, and another enhanced version, the Falcon 100, was highly successful, with a total of 226 examples delivered to customers until production ceased in 1989.
Falcon 50
This new model, which made its first flight in 1976, was a breakaway from Falcon 30-40 range. The Falcon 50 had a 3,400-nautical mile range, giving it transatlantic range and the ability to cross the U.S. It became the Falcon family’s first transoceanic aircraft. In December 1976, Dasault revamped the prototype and fitted it with supercritical wings—the first of its kind. The wings proved to be a smart investments, and would be included on the new Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000 models. The series, which eventually became the much-improved Falcon 50EX, had staying power. It ceased production in 2008.
Falcon 2000 Series
In the mid-1990s, Dassault unveiled its 2000 series aircraft, which served as a wide-body, super mid-sized transcontinental jet accommodating eight to 10 passengers. The dual-engine Falcon 2000 series was so successful and dependable that Dassault built several iterations with design, performance, and luxury improvements. The most recent iteration, the Falcon 2000 LXS, is a $35 million business jet that boasts a 4,000 nautical mile range—from Los Angeles to Geneva—at a maximum operating speed of Mach .86, or 659 mph. The wide-body cabin is roomy, too, measuring seven feet, eight inches wide with a comfortable ceiling height of about six feet, two inches tall. This biz jet features plenty of luxe design comforts, including advanced soundproofing for a quiet cabin during flight, high-speed voice and data connections, 18 large windows to create plenty of natural light, executive seating, a galley, and a lavatory. Improved takeoff and landing capabilities make more cities accessible. More than 700 of the 2000 series have been built.
Rafale
In 1991, the first of two Rafale fighter prototypes made its maiden flight. Since then, this agile fighter can fly at Mach 1.8 or 1,381 mph and has proven its worth through its versatile omnirole capabilities in military operations—from dog fighting to precision attacks to air refueling for endurance sorties. It is the only non-U.S. fighter cleared to operate from a U.S. aircraft carrier.
The Rafale’s strengths are in its aerodynamics, specifically the close-coupled canards and delta wing that help the twin-engine jet remain fully agile even at a high angle of attack. A digital fly-by-wire system and advanced avionics, including its multi-sensor data fusion, feed the pilot(s) information for real-time tactical decision-making based on enemy aircraft, the environment, and operational goals. The Rafale can be configured for land missions and carrier operations.
Falcon 900 LX
The $44.7 million trijet 900 LX goes faster and farther than its Falcon 900 predecessor, reaching 4,750 nautical miles at Mach .87, or 667 mph. Certified in 2010, this modern long-range variant of the Falcon 900 (first introduced in 1984) seats up to 19 passengers but is comfortably configured for eight to 10 passengers with a large galley, three separate lounge areas, and a lavatory. A restyled cabin includes the latest in cabin connectivity, lighting, and soundproofing. Powered by three Honeywell TFE731-60 engines, the 900 LX is the only trijet in its class, offering advantages for more economical and direct over-water routing and accessing short airfields. There are more than 500 Dassault 900 series aircraft in operation around the world.
Falcon 8X
Dassault’s current flagship, the Falcon 8X, can fly nonstop from New York to Beijing at a top speed of Mach .90, or 690 mph. This $65.7-million ultra-long-range trijet can cover 6,450 nautical miles and accommodates 12-16 passengers. This refined iteration of the Falcon 7X has increased the fuselage length, extending the cabin by 3.6 feet to 42.8 feet, giving more space to customize a typical three-zone configuration, including an aft lavatory and shower, a grand galley, or even crew quarters. High-speed connectivity, Ka-band satcom, high-definition audio and video, and FalconConnect offer passengers a fully integrated broadband and communications suite to conduct business or relax through entertainment. Temperature, lighting, and shades can be controlled by passengers through an app or controls. This jet has 38 large windows to deliver ample natural light. The Falcon 8X’s operation is also compatible with Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Falcon 6X
As Dassault’s first ultra-wide body business jet, the twin-engine, long-range Falcon 6X has plenty of room with a cabin measuring eight feet, five inches wide with six feet, five inches of headroom. First introduced in 2023, this $53 million jet is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines, giving it a top speed of Mach .90, or 690 mph, and a range of 5,500 nautical miles, or nine hours of flight time. The 6X can accommodate up to 16 passengers in three zones. Thirty large windows and a unique skylight provide ample natural lighting during the day. This jet is also certified for short-field takeoffs and landings.
Falcon 10X
In 2027, Dassault is scheduled to have a new flagship with the anticipated commercial launch of the Falcon 10X. This $75 million ultra-long-range business jet is faster than any in the company’s history, with a top speed of Mach .925, or 709 mph, and a nonstop range of 7,500 nautical miles—say, from Los Angeles to Hong Kong or New York to Shanghai. The 51,000-feet maximum cruising altitude keeps the jet above commercial air traffic for long-haul destinations.
With a headroom of 6’ 8”, width of 9’1” and the ability to seat up to 19 passengers, the Falcon 10X claims the largest cabin in its class. Dassault offers a plethora of luxe and bespoke cabin design options too that could be configured in up to four zones, including an expanded dining/conference area, an entertainment area with large-screen monitors, a private stateroom with a true queen-size bed, or a master suite with a private stand-up shower.
Dassault is introducing a high-aspect-ratio carbon-fiber wing to enhance the Falcon 10X’s strength and aerodynamic efficiency in its business jet fleet for the first time.In the cockpit, this jet uses fly-by-wire and the next-generation NeXus flight deck with touch-screen interfaces, a single smart throttle, and its FalconEye® Combined Vision System to improve a pilot’s situational awareness and the ability to operate in low-visibility conditions.
