100th Falcon 2000 Leaves Mérignac Plant for Basel Completion

The 100th Dassault Falcon 2000 business jet left the assembly plant at Bordeaux-Mérignac, France on September 27, heading for final completion by Basel-based Jet Aviation. This aircraft will be delivered in February to a major European automobile manufacturer, which has an all-Falcon fleet. Next year, Dassault will deliver its 250th Falcon 900 and 300th Falcon 50, both EX models. Elsewhere, Dassault Falcon is talking up the use of military-type titanium and composite technology for the carbon-fiber horizontal stabilizer of Falcon 2000 and 900 series business jets. The advanced tails are also made at Mérignac. The new structures use a cast titanium central box with composite spars constructed through resin transfer molding, and carbon composite skin panels. A similar technique is used to build the wings of Dassault's Rafale next-generation combat aircraft. The process reduces the number of parts and fasteners, reducing weight, complexity and cost. The new design is to be fully certified and in service by the end of next year.

NBAA 1999, Atlanta, Ga.