UK's Royal Air Force to Expand VIP Fleet with Two Falcon 900LX Business Jets

(15 Mar 2022, 11:49 +07)  The UK's Royal Air Force is set to expand its VIP fleet with two Dassault Falcon 900LX business jets.

Scheduled to enter service this summer, the aircraft are being acquired directly by aircraft management and services company Centerline AV Limited of Bristol, which will operate and support the 900LX units on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

Centerline will initially operate the aircraft with mixed civilian and RAF crews.

Dassult Falcon 900LX

The 900LX’s will replace a fleet of four BAe146 in what the UK MOD terms ‘Command Support Air Transport’ - transporting senior defence and government officials, and occasionally members of the Royal Family.

 The aircraft were acquired in an open tender against various other business aircraft models.

“Dassault Aviation is honoured to have been selected to provide these two Falcon 900LX’s to Centerline for use by the UK Ministry of Defence, and we look forward to strengthening this relationship over the coming years,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier. “With more than 550 airplanes sold to date, the 900-series aircraft is a proven performer and is entrusted with critical missions throughout the world by governments and leading businesses.”

The 12-14 seat 900LX has a range of 4,750 nm (8,800 km) and features an EASy II flight deck. The trijet configuration of the 900LX provides users with an extra margin of safety, especially on overwater routes.