Dassault Aviation Falcon 50EX

The Falcon touched down smartly in a puff of blue tire smoke; then I heard the simultaneous sounds of aggressive thrust reverser application and screeching brakes as the jet came to a full stop in a mere 2,000 feet. I had never seen anything quite like it before. This kind of short-field ability has made the midsize Falcon 50 a legend since Dassault first delivered it in 1980. Its fans include pilots ranging from singer Jimmy Buffett to preacher Franklin Graham, and even though it has not been manufactured since 2007, used models continue to sell well.

Falcons have always been known as pilots’ airplanes, and the Falcon 50 and follow-on 50EX preserved those traits while broadening the design’s reach into super-midsize territory. Certified in 1977, the 50 is a three-engine outgrowth of the Falcon 20 design, which also was well regarded for its flying qualities and large cabin. And the 50 became known for being the biggest airplane on the ramp at smaller airports, opening up to its owners many more airport options than its competitors.

The 50EX’s improved climb rate allows it to climb to 37,000 feet in 17 minutes, 13 minutes quicker than its predecessor. The 50EX’s upgraded Honeywell engines also burn less fuel than the first-generation TFE731 engines on the original Falcon 50, though its third engine keeps it among the most expensive super mids to fly.