Dassault Falcon 20GF (F-GBTM): French private jet
During the 1950s and 1960s, the French government, which had taken a significant interest in the re-establishment and growth of its national aviation industries in the aftermath of the Second World War, developed a detailed request for a combined liaison/trainer aircraft, to be equipped with twin-turbofan engines.
Among those companies that took interest in the government request was French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. In December 1961, French aircraft designer and head of Dassault Aviation, Marcel Dassault, gave the go-ahead to proceed with work towards the production of an eight- to 10-seat executive jet/military liaison aircraft, which was initially named as the Dassault-Breguet Mystère 20.
On 4 May 1963, the Mystère 20 prototype conducted its maiden flight from Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, Gironde, France. By this stage, attention in the programme was centered around the commercial opportunities for the type, particularly the large North American market.
Made in France
First flight: 1963
Production: 512
Crew: 2
Capacity: 14 passengers
Motor: 2 × General Electric (GE) CF700-2D-2 turbofans
Speed: 862 km/h
Range: 3,350 km
Ceiling: 12,200 m (42,000 ft)
Weight: 7,530 kg