Private Jet Review
Falcon 50EX
Dassault Aviation was the first to create a private jet with intercontinental range, the Falcon 50. Seventeen years later they re-created it, keeping the features that had made it such a success, and modifying where they could with more advanced technology. The result was a private jet that looked and felt like its predecessor but easily supersedes it. The Falcon 50EX cruises faster at high altitudes, flies further, burns less fuel, and generally outperforms the Falcon 50 in every aspect.
The cabin of the Falcon 50EX is probably the part of the jet that has changed the least. It still has a width and height of 5.9 and 6.1 feet, respectively. Its length has increased by 5 feet to a total of 28 feet for a total cabin volume of 700 cubic feet, the largest in its class. 115 cubic feet of baggage storage is available in internal and external compartments. Three closets in the cabin provide space for coats, suits, and briefcases. All baggage compartments are fully pressurized. A total of 2,205 pounds of bags can be stored.
The cabin itself is divided into two sections by a curtain. The seating configuration for nine passengers is generally laid out in one four-seat club arrangement and a separate section of two facing seats and a three-seat divan. Work tables fold out between facing seats so work can be completed in-flight. Power plugs are available for laptops and office equipment. Temperature control is separate for the cockpit and the cabin so both parties are comfortable in-flight. Space and equipment come standard for hot and cold food preparation, including an oven, ice chest, and coffee maker.
The Falcon 50EX uses three Honeywell TFE731-40 turbofan engines, the second generation of the TFE731 engines. They provide more thrust at cruise speeds and burn less fuel then the Falcon 50’s TFE731-3-1C engines did. They provide the same amount of thrust for a sea level takeoff as the -3-1C engines, but have an increased ambient temperature, meaning that they perform almost as well at high altitudes and temperatures as they do at sealevel. At an elevation of 5,000 feet and a temperature of 77 ˚ F, the -40 engines produce 3,440 pounds of thrust – 93% of the thrust produced at standard sea level conditions.
Furthermore, the -40 engines are equipped with FADEC (Full Authority N1-reference Digital Electronic Engine Control) systems, which automatically start and restart the engines on the ground, reducing pilot workload and optimizing for fuel burn and performance. The engine manufacturing process used on the -40 engines is more precise, resulting in higher tolerances and reduced leakage.
The Falcon 50EX, like the Falcon 50, has great runway performance. It can take off in 4,935 feet at sea level and in 7,247 at an elevation of 5,000 feet and a temperature of 77 ˚ F. Its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) has increased from 38,800 pounds to 39,700 pounds – a 900 pound increase. The Falcon 50EX can climb directly to an altitude of 37,000 feet in 17 minutes (13 minutes more quickly than the Falcon 50). It can cruise at 417 knots at an altitude of 43,000 feet for long range trips, or at 481 knots and an altitude of 39,000 feet for optimum speed. The maximum flight ceiling for the Falcon 50 is 49,000 feet.
The Falcon 50EX was designed using computer-molded fluid dynamics software and lightweight materials. Its primary structures are made of aluminum monocoque, and composites are used for some secondary structures. The aerodynamic design and materials slightly decreased the sound produced by the Falcon 50EX on takeoff to 83.8 EPNdB.
The three fuel tanks for the Falcon 50EX are regulated by electrical transfer pumps. These pumps can be used as emergency backup systems if the both of the hydraulic systems that power the avionics fail. As unlikely as it would be to have all three systems fail, a fourth option is still available – all flight controls can be operated manually.
The avionics suite of the Falcon 50EX is based on the Collins Pro Line 4 suite. Four 7.25x7.25 inch screens display flight information. Flight controls are located close to the relevant displays in an intuitive cockpit layout. The cockpit comes standard with a dual Pro Line II radio system, dual digital air-computers, a TWR-850 Doppler turbulence detection radar, an AlliedSignal dual Global GNS-XMS Flight Management System, and several other flight control and environmental awareness systems.
The Falcon 50 was a successful and high-performing private jet, but the Falcon 50EX outdid it in every way. Everything from its cabin to its engines have been improved, adding up to a decidedly better private jet.
