Aircraft Spotlight: Dassault Falcon 900EX

In Q3 of 2021, Apex Flight Solutions acted as the acquisition agent on a beautiful Dassault Falcon 900EX. We thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about what an incredible piece of machinery the 900EX is, and how it’s served its new owner over the last few months.

Over the course of about a year beginning mid 2020, one of our clients discussed with us the possibility of adding a super-midsize jet to his fleet. He was already a Citation owner, an aircraft we’ll explore in a future newsletter, but he wanted an aircraft with true intercontinental range and speed for both business and personal travel.. After doing exhaustive market research and cost analysis, we decided the Falcon 900EX was the best fit for his mission and budget.

At the time, the market was much softer than it became in Q4, and continues to be. Aircraft acquisition costs ranged from $4.5M-$8.3M with an average of $7.1M. Today, costs range from $9.2M-$13.6M with an average of $11.6M.

The Falcon 900 was first certified in 1986 and has three Garrett TFE731-5AR-1C turbofan engines rated at 4500 lbs. of thrust. The center engine is fed by an S-duct with its intake on top of the aft fuselage. The 900B entered service in 1991 with engines upgraded to TFE731-5BR-1C rated at 4,750 lbs. of thrust. The long-range 900EX entered service in 1996 and features more modern TFE731-60 engines rated at 5000 lbs. of thrust, and an all-glass flight deck.

The EX has a cruise speed of 460 kts, and a max-fuel payload of 2,700 lbs. It can fly 4,500 nautical miles on a tank of gas, meaning from Austin, it can reach western Europe nonstop or eastern Asia with one stop. Its tanks hold 3055 gallons of Jet-A.

With a typical configuration for 12, the cabin is cavernous. A large baggage compartment that can be accessed through the aft lavatory bulkhead means luggage can be stored neatly out of the way, but accessed during flight if needed. The seats are large and comfortable and can be configured to accommodate a variety of seating positions. The forward galley features a cold bay, a hot coffee pot, a microwave and several storage compartments and drawers. The particular aircraft we helped acquire has an additional forward lav so crew members don’t have to traverse the main cabin when the need arises.

Maintenance, both scheduled and unscheduled, are similar to other bizjets. 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year phase inspections are easily planned for in similar fashion as inspections based on hours of operation - 400, 800, 1200, etc. One consideration when searching for a Falcon is the necessity of a full landing gear overhaul due every 12 years, which is a considerable expense and necessitates a few weeks of downtime.

Operating costs are on-par with other jets in the midsize fleet with more capability and higher safety margins owing to the fact that it has three engines. Planning on 200 owner-hours/year, without any offset by charter/lease, our proprietary model shows an average annual budget of roughly $1.7M in today’s dollars at today’s average fuel price.

The Falcon 900EX is an exceptionally capable aircraft and a dream to fly, according to our pireps. Cabin comfort is extraordinary given its center height of 6’2” and 7’8” width. The cabin is extremely quiet, quiet enough for easy conversation, especially once the galley bulkhead door is closed. With a service ceiling of 50,000 ft, and an average cruising altitude well over 40,000, you can plan on flying over most weather with direct routing to your destination. The engines at takeoff power leave little to the imagination as to what a ride on a rocket ship might feel like, especially at lighter weights, and with the nose pointed skyward,  the climb to cruise takes just a few short minutes.

Within the last four months, the Falcon 900EX APEX manages has carried its owner from Austin to Switzerland, Argentina, and several destinations here stateside. It’s an extremely versatile airframe, easily able to get in and out of high-altitude fields.

Research shows there are currently 118 Falcon 900EXs in operation, with three available on the market.

If you’re in the market for a bizjet, whether it’s a small citation or a Gulfstream 650, APEX Flight Solutions are acquisition experts and we can find exactly the right airplane for your budget and mission. If you’ve been dreaming about jet ownership, but need an honest, unvarnished look at real-world costs, click here to download So You Want To Buy a Jet, written by our APEX team.

Dassault Falcon 900EX specs:

  • Crew: 2

  • Capacity: 12 passengers

  • Length: 20.21 m (66 ft 4 in)

  • Wingspan: 19.33 m (63 ft 5 in)

  • Wing area: 49.0 m2 (527 sq ft)

  • Aspect ratio: 7.63:1

  • Empty weight: 10,255 kg (22,608 lb)

  • Max takeoff weight: 20,640 kg (45,503 lb)

  • Fuel capacity: 8,690 kg (19,160 lb)

  • Powerplant: 3 × AlliedSignal TFE731-60 turbofans, 21.13 kN (5000 lbf) thrust each

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.84–0.87

  • Cruise speed: 950 km/h (590 mph, 510 kn) ; Mach 0.85 (at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)

  • Stall speed: 158 km/h (98 mph, 85 kn) (wheels and flaps down)

  • Range: 8,340 km (4,501 nm; 5,180 miles) with 8 passengers

  • Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,000 ft)

Clayton Corn