This striking photograph captures the Garrett Falcon 20, a French business
jet with a one-of-a-kind feature: an afterburner.
In 1988, the aircraft served as a testbed for the United States
Coast Guard. Known by the name, The Guardian, it was intended to be used
in rescue and drug trafficking missions. The successful test flight used a Garrett
TFE1042 engine. It also marked the first plane of its type using an afterburner.
Design
A French aviation company, Dassault Aviation,
manufactured the first Falcon 20 to operate as a business jet.
During the initial stages of development, the jet was known
as the Breguet Mystere 20. Approved as a low-wing monoplane in December 1961,
two rear-mounted General Electric CF700 turbofan engines powered the aircraft.
Its maiden flight took place on May 4th, 1963, seeing excellent results. On June 3rd, 1965,
the finalized version was showcased. Seven days later, the aircraft would make history
along with French aviator Jacqueline Auriol as she became the first woman to break the speed record.
Early on, Dassault arranged a distribution deal with Pan American. However, market research showed
American consumers would find Mystere challenging to pronounce. Therefore, before roll-out,
the planes were sold to America under the name Fan Jet Falcon, soon popularized as simply Falcon 20.
Dassault's contract with Pan American was a match made in heaven. By 1968,
the Business Jet Division of Panamerican already placed a total of 160 orders for the
plane. Orders continued to roll in. The aircraft was used by both civil and military operators,
including the Federal Express, French Navy, and even the United States Coast Guard.
The plane was later modified and renamed Falcon 200. This variant saw an engine
overhaul. The business jet now derived its power from two Garret ATF3s,
which significantly improved its range, capacity, and speed.
Some of the Falcons initially powered by the CF700 engines were refitted with the Garrett
TFE731 turbofan engine. The second version was an even bigger commercial hit. Its production
continued until 1988. The only reason for its extinction was scandal within the Falcon family.
Nevertheless, as countries started adopting the aircraft, its use became subject to restrictions,
and outright bans as increasingly stricter regulations on noise control grew. Otherwise,
the planes were retrofitted with engines compliant with the terms.
Over the years, the aircraft has been modified and flown as an aerial laboratory and testbed.
NASA and Cobham Aviation both employed the Falcon for testing. For example, in 2012,
the Falcon became the first civil aircraft to fly on biofuel alone.
The United States Coast Guard operated its version of the Falcon, which they renamed
the HU-25 Guardian. The first of these planes were delivered to the Coast Guard in 1982.
They used the Guardian as a high-speed search and rescue aircraft, seeking
shipwrecked survivors and locating downed aircraft and vessels. It was also used
to intercept and prevent the movement of drug trafficking planes and ships.
The TFE1042
However, the story of the first and only business jet to use an afterburner began
in 1978. Garrett AiResearch announced they would test the TFE1042 afterburner fitted
onto the Swedish Volvo Flygmotor AB. Their goal was to provide an engine for the AIDC
F-CK Indigenous Defense Fighter built for the Republic of China Air Force.
The introduction of TFE731 model 1042 was billed as a low bypass ratio military
version of the successful commercial engine, which [QUOTE] "provides efficient, reliable,
cost-effective propulsion for the next generation of light strike and advanced trainer aircraft."
The engine could provide 4260 pounds of force or 18.9 kilo Newtons of thrust dry and 6790
pounds of force or 30.2 kilo Newtons with the afterburner. Initial negotiations concluded
that the investment would be split between Volvo, Garrett, AIDC, and Piaggio (an Italian company).
The joint venture produced an engine called the TFE1042-6,
built for light attack planes or advanced trainer aircraft. They also developed the TFE1042-7,
an upgraded variant for the F-5 and the AMX. Garrett AiResearch was tasked with
building the core engine as Volvo focused on the fan and afterburner.
In 1979, a Volvo test facility ran the first test, lasting for 3 hours. The
engine used two rotating shafts, one high pressure, the other low. Three stages of
titanium blades were built. For context, the first stage used a whopping 30 blades.
Testing
The French business jet flew on multiple occasions for both tests and modifications. Notwithstanding,
it was commended as easy to operate. The plane was visually appealing,
too, making it a popular model for showcasing new technologies worldwide.
One of the most significant benefits of the Falcon 20 was its maneuverability. The plane didn't
require a stall-barrier system or stick pusher to achieve predictable behavior. In fact, all of its
flight controls were hydraulic, which augmented the mechanical pushrods between flight control
surfaces and the cockpit. Even if its hydraulics failed, the aircraft could be flown manually.
In 1982, the United States Coast Guard received its first Falcon 20,
labeled HU-25 and known as the Guardian. Over the next few years, it bought 41 more. Later on,
these aircraft were fitted with sensors that could detect oil spills and environmental pollutants
as it patrolled the coasts. The Guardian planes also starred in the 1991 Gulf War.
Throughout its application, the Coast Guard tinkered with the plane on a handful of occasions.
Notably, they mount a Garrett TFE1042 engine with an afterburner and fly it as a testbed.
They added a titanium build-up to the tail of the plane to withstand the heat of the afterburner.
The test marked the first and only occasion a plane of its type used
an afterburner and demonstrated the most powerful engine ever to be used
on the Falcon. The test was reportedly successful, albeit never progressed past
testing. The cost of implementing such an engine type outweighed the benefits.