Dassault Falcon 2000/2000EX Widebody Twinjet, France

Dassault announced the Falcon 2000, originally called the Falcon X, in 1989. The development of the aircraft was carried out by Dassault in partnership with Alenia. The aircraft's first flight was in 1993 and it entered service in 1995. Over 220 aircraft have been delivered.

The Falcon 2000 can carry a maximum of 19 passengers and has a range of 5,630km (with six passengers at normal cruising speed of Mach 0.8).

The extended-range version, the Falcon 2000EX, has more powerful engines and extra fuel capacity, providing a range of 7,000km. The 2000EX took its maiden flight in October 2001, received US and European flight certification in March 2003 and entered service in May 2003. Over 100 2000EX aircraft are in service. The Falcon 2000EX EASy, with the new EASy flight deck, was first flown in January 2003 and received US and European certification in June 2004. Deliveries are underway.

In October 2005, Dassault announced the Falcon 2000DX which will replace the Falcon 2000. The new aircraft has the same interior, EASy flight deck and engines as the 2000EX, but a range of 6,019km (3,250nm). The first flight of the 2000DX was in June 2007. US and European certification was achieved in October 2007 and first deliveries are expected in mid 2008.

In May 2006, Dassault announced the Falcon 2000LX, which will have a range of 7,400km (4,000nm) at Mach 0.8. The 2000LX will have blended winglets designed by Aviation Partners for increased fuel efficiency. To accommodate the winglets, reinforcing straps will be added to the upper and lower wing panels and the servo actuator door will be reinforced. The baseline wingspan of the 2000LX has been increased by 2.06m compared to the 2000EX.

The aircraft is scheduled to be certified in early 2008. National Air Services (NAS) of Saudi Arabia placed an order for 20 2000LX aircraft to be delivered from autumn 2008. The 2000LX will replace the Falcon 2000EX from 2010. For 2000EX deliveries in 2008/2009, winglets will be available as an option.

FALCON DESIGN

The aircraft has two rear-mounted engines. The fuselage of the aircraft is of a similar damage tolerant design to that of the Falcon 900. Kevlar has been used for the radome, the wingroot fairings, nosewheel doors and the tailcone. Carbon fibre is used for the nosewheel doors.

Alenia is responsible for the development and manufacture of the rear fuselage section and the engine nacelles. The rear mounted engine pods and pylons were developed by Alenia and Piaggio. The tail has carbon fibre skin panels, composite spars and a cast titanium central box.

FLIGHT DECK

The two-man Falcon 2000 flight deck has a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 electronic flight and information system with EFI-4000 four-tube display. The instrument panel is also fitted with a three-tube Engine Indicating Electronic Display (EIED) supplied by Thales Avionics. The pilot is equipped with a Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 head-up display.

The communications suite includes a dual communications and navigation system with dual TRD-94D Mode-S transponders, dual RTU-4420 radio tuners and a Rockwell Collins HF-9000 transmit / receive unit. A satellite communications unit can be fitted with the podded antenna installed in the fintip.

The aircraft's flight management system is the Rockwell Collins FMS-6100 with a Cat II autopilot. The flight systems include Rockwell Collins DME-442 distance measuring equipment, dual automatic direction finder, dual attitude and heading reference system and dual digital air data computers with integrated avionics processors.

The aircraft is fitted with a Rockwell Collins WXR-840 colour weather radar. An optional radar fit is the TWR-850 Doppler weather radar.

Optional systems include a dual Honeywell electronic ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) with windshear detection, dual Honeywell Laseref inertial reference system, a backup flight management system (with a global positioning system), a flight data recorder and a Traffic Alert and Collision System (TCAS).

The Falcon 2000EX was initially equipped with the ProLine IV, but is now supplied fitted with the Honeywell EASy Enhanced Avionics System, as on the Falcon 900EX. EASy is based on the Primus Epic system with improved safety and information management features to meet future Air Traffic Management (ATM) requirements.

CABIN

The cabin can accommodate up to 19 passengers. The forward part of the passenger cabin is arranged as a four-seat lounge. The rear part of the cabin is set out with a two-seat sofa and four seats. The cabin is 1.88m high, 2.34m wide and the cabin floor has a length of 7.98m.

The 3.79m³ pressurised baggage compartment is externally loaded, internally accessible and stows up to 725kg.

TURBOFAN ENGINES

The Falcon 2000 has two rear-mounted General Electric / Honeywell CFE738-1-1B turbofan engines, each providing 26.3kN thrust. The engines are fitted with Dee-Howard clamshell-type thrust reversers which open in upper and lower halves about the engine centreline and are hinged at the nozzle. The fuel tanks have a capacity of 5,513kg.

The Falcon 2000EX, DX and LX are powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW/3087/C twin-spool turbofan engines equipped with Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), each providing 31.1kN thrust. The engines have Nordam ASP single-pivot thrust reversers.

The fuel system has increased capacity of 7,557kg, compared to 5,513kg for the Falcon 2000. It has new pumps and gauging system and new Intertechnique fuel quantity management computer. The range of the 2000EX carrying six passengers is 7,037km.

LANDING GEAR

The Falcon 2000 has retractable tricycle type landing gear, each unit being twin-wheeled. The main gear retracts inwards and the nosewheel retracts forward.

Because of its increased weight, the 2000EX has heavier duty landing gear and braking system, supplied by Messier Bugatti. The braking system has a new brake steering control unit with brake temperature measurement and automatic airbrake activation for landing and rejected take-offs.

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