The First Falcon’s First Flight

The Dassault Mystère 20 launched the era of the purpose-built business jet 60 years ago today.

Thursday, May 04, 2023 at 10:35 AM ET

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The first flight of the first business jet that would become the Falcon 20 took place in Bordeaux, France, on May 4, 1963. [Courtesy of Dassault Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

The Dassault Mystère 20, launched 60 years ago on May 4, 1963, pioneered the era of the purpose-built business jet and established the highly successful Falcon jet line.
Its success was notably boosted by Charles Lindbergh's endorsement to Pan Am and its design drew upon Dassault's strong heritage in developing Mirage fighter jets.
Embodying a philosophy of superb handling, beautiful lines, and rugged construction, the Falcon 20 led to a diverse family of subsequent Falcon models, with over 2,700 aircraft built and more than 2,100 flying today.

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Marcel Dassault may have said it first—but he echoed the minds of many pioneering aircraft designers before him when he quipped, “For an aircraft to fly well, it must be beautiful.” That can certainly be said of the very first of the Falcon jets for which his company, Dassault Aviation, would become famous.

The early prototype of the Mystère 20 on the production line at Dassault’s Mérignac plant. [Courtesy of Dassault Aviation]

The Dassault Mystère 20 launched the era of the purpose-built business jet 60 years ago, on May 4, 1963, in Mérignac, France, beginning the Falcon jet line that would take the U.S. market by storm.