1973 Dassault Falcon 20F-5 Is a Fast, Stylish ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick

This early French business jet was based on a 1950s fighter and gained renown as a FedEx freight carrier.

Dassault's Falcon 20 formed the foundation for the company's latest models. [Courtesy: Flight Source International]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Today's Top Pick is a 1973 Dassault Falcon 20F-5, highlighted for its vintage European style and high performance.
  • The Dassault Falcon 20 was an influential early business jet, blending military-derived speed and power with luxurious accommodations.
  • It achieved widespread recognition when Federal Express (now FedEx Corp.) chose it to launch its air express package operation due to its speed and adaptability.
  • The featured aircraft, available on AircraftForSale, includes a recently refurbished 2020 cabin seating nine passengers, a comprehensive avionics suite, and extensive flight history.
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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Dassault Falcon 20F-5.

The Dassault Falcon 20 helped form a wave of speedy early business jets that included the Lear 23, North American Sabreliner, and Lockheed JetStar. The Falcon 20, whose design was based on the company’s Mystère fighter, sought to combine the power and performance of military jets with the luxurious accommodations that appealed to business travelers.

The aircraft’s big break came in the early 1970s when parcel delivery company Federal Express, now FedEx Corp., purchased a fleet of the jets to help start its then-new air express package operation. Company executives picked the Falcon over competing models because of its combination of speed and adaptability to the specialized mission. The jet also was a hit with business customers who appreciated its performance and style.

This 1973 Dassault Falcon 20F-5 has 16,545 hours on the airframe, 2,510 hours on the engines, and has recorded 13,197 landings. The panel includes dual Collins VHF-22D radios, Collins VIR-32 navigation radios, FMS with GPS, Fairchild cockpit voice and flight data recorders, a Collins AP-105 autopilot, dual Collins DME-42s, and a Collins ALT-55B radar altimeter.

The aircraft’s air-conditioned cabin seats nine passengers and two crew, was refurbished in 2020, the same year the exterior was repainted. The cabin includes a galley, sound system, and aft lavatory.

Pilots looking for a jet with high performance, vintage European style, and a roomy cabin should consider this 1973 Dassault Falcon 20F-5, which is available on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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