Dassault Mystere - Falcon 20 & 200
Development of the original Mystere 20 traces back to a joint collaboration between Sud Aviation (which later merged into Aerospatiale) and Dassault in the late 1950s. Prototype construction began in January 1962, leading to a first flight on May 4, 1963. This first prototype shared the production aircraft's overall configuration, but differed in the powerplant. The prototype was initially powered by 3300 lbf Pratt & Whitney JT12A8 turbojets, whereas production Mystere 20s (or Falcon 20s outside France) were powered with General Electric CF700s. The first GE powered 20 flew on New Year's Day 1965. Throughout the type's production life Aerospatiale remained responsible for building the tail and rear fuselage.
Production ended in 1988 when the last Falcon 200 was delivered, by which time 38 -200s and 476 -20s (including HU-2Js) had been delivered. The last 20 was completed in late 1983.
The Falcon 200 is a re-engined development of the 20 which Dassault first publicly announced at the 1979 Paris Airshow. A converted Falcon 20 served as the prototype and first flew with the new Garrett ATF 3-6A-4C engines on April 30 1980. French DGAC certification was awarded in June 1981. Apart from the Garrett engines, the Falcon 200 (initially the 20H) introduced greater fuel tankage and much longer range, redesigned wing root fairings and some systems and equipment changes. The 200 remained in production until 1988.
The Guardian is a maritime surveillance variant of the Falcon 200 sold the French navy (as the Gardian) and the US Coast Guard (HU-2J).
AlliedSignal offered a Falcon 20 re-engine program with its TFE731 turbofan. More than 100 Falcon 20s have now been re-engined with 21.1kN (4750lb) TFE731-5ARs or -5BRs.
Variants
- Mystere-Falcon 20: Prototype, one built.
- Mystere-Falcon 20C: Initial production version.
- Mystere-Falcon 20D: Higher thrust engines and lower fuel consumption and more fuel capacity.
- Mystere-Falcon 20E: Higher thrust engines, higher zero fuel weight.
- Mystere-Falcon 20F: Full leading edge slats and more fuel capacity.
- Falcon 20G: With Garrett AiResearch ATF306 turbofans.
- Falcon 200: Improved variant.
- HU-25A Guardian: United States Coast Guard version of the Falcon 20G.
- CC-117: Canadian military designation of Falcon 20C from 1970.
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