Dassault Falcon 50

[FalconFan]

I am (was) a private pilot and have been trying to learn more about the original steam gauge Falcon 50. From what I've been able to find online the Falcon 50 is considered to be a pilot's airplane. I've looked at numerous pictures of the cockpit and read what I could find, and if possible would like to ask someone with Falcon 50 experience a few questions. Thanks.

[treadigraph]

One of the best looking bizjets in my view, certainly the best of the Falcons.

[Fly.Buy]

17 May 1987 the American warship (Frigate) USS Stark was taken out by an Iranian Military jet, initially American intelligence was convinced that the culprit was a Mirage F1, in fact history now shows that the actual aircraft which did the attack was Iranian Dassault Falcon 50 adapted to carry Exocet missiles. Certainly a sleek adgile machine, plenty on the internet about this incident.

[Wycombe]

On a Cruise Ship off the coast of Brittany last Summer, we were "beaten-up" by one (French Navy I think) in quite sporting fashion!

[10 DME ARC]

USS Stark was attacked by an Iraqi FA50 and two Exocet missiles!! Not Iranian

[DaveReidUK]

17 May 1987 the American warship (Frigate) USS Stark was taken out by an Iranian Military jet, initially American intelligence was convinced that the culprit was a Mirage F1, in fact history now shows that the actual aircraft which did the attack was Iranian Dassault Falcon 50 adapted to carry Exocet missiles. Certainly a sleek adgile machine, plenty on the internet about this incident.

To this day there is continuing controversy over whether the attack was mounted by one or more Iraqi Mirage F1 aircraft or a Falcon 50 secretly modified to carry and launch Exocets (supposedly accomplished with the cooperation of both Dassault and Thales).

One story even has the Falcon being intercepted by USN Tomcats after the attack but allowed to continue back to base after claiming to be on a VIP mission. That would, of course, require F-14 crews to be so dumb that they failed to notice underwing pylons on a supposedly civilian jet.

[Planemike]

Not sure if this is correct but seem to vaguely remember hearing the Falcon 20 & 50 wing was derived from a military jet: cannot remember which one.

[eckhard]

Maybe the Dassault Mystere?

[DaveReidUK]

Not sure if this is correct but seem to vaguely remember hearing the Falcon 20 & 50 wing was derived from a military jet: cannot remember which one.

The Falcon 20 was originally called the Mystère 20 - there may be a clue in that. :O

[Fly.Buy]

Thanks for the correction, indeed it was an Iraqi falcon 50, registration YI-ALE. I am unable to link or post any pictures of the aircraft but there are a couple of grainy colour photos of it on the net with a modified pointed nose.

[DaveReidUK]

Thanks for the correction, indeed it was an Iraqi falcon 50, registration YI-ALE. I am unable to link or post any pictures of the aircraft but there are a couple of grainy colour photos of it on the net with a modified pointed nose.

https://forum.keypublishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168678&d=1232404670

The thread on the Key Aero Network forum from which that photo is taken includes a post suggesting that it was a cosmetic addition and it never flew in that configuration. That aside, there's no evidence of any missile pylons.

We'll probably never know the truth.

[bobward]

Didn't the French CEV have a Falcon type jet with a pointy nose at some point? I seem to remember having seen a picture of one a long time ago......

[DaveReidUK]

Didn't the French CEV have a Falcon type jet with a pointy nose at some point? I seem to remember having seen a picture of one a long time ago......

Yes, the Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse at Montelimar have former CEV FA20 MSN 86: