Dassault History

Marcel Bloch designs the Éclair propeller. Marcel Bloch and Henry Potez set up the Société des Hélices Éclair Company of which they became the engineering directors. By 1917, the company becomes one of the major French propeller manufacturers.

Marcel Bloch, Henry Potez and Louis Coroller create the Société d’Etudes Aéronautiques (SEA) company which will produce the SEA IV (1st combat aircraft by Marcel Bloch); 105 delivered.

First large aircraft contract from the government (1,000 aircraft).But when the first series model was rolled out on November 11, 1918, the war was over. The contract was cancelled. All aircraft in the process of being manufactured were delivered.

Marcel Bloch witnessed the arrival of Charles Lindbergh at Le Bourget and realized the future of commercial aviation.

The setting up of the Air Ministry drew Marcel Bloch back into the aviation business. He set up the Société des Avions Marcel Bloch Company to manufacture the prototype for a postal three-engined aircraft program and innovates by using a new type of integral, all-metal structure.

Bloch designs and builds MB 60 trimotors which will be the first civil aircraft of a long series (MB80; MB120; MB160; MB220: Medical & Military aircraft). Prototypes for civil aircraft and military aircraft will then follow at a faster pace.

The Société des Avions Marcel Bloch is fully nationalized, and its factories formed the essential part of the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO) of which Marcel Bloch became the delegated administrator. At the same time, he creates the Société Anonyme des Avions Marcel Bloch (SAAMB) which will serve as the design office for the aircraft produced by the SNCASO. SNCASO produced the MB 150 series of fighter aircraft and then a bomber, the MB 170 and its offshoots which were the backbone of the French Air Force.

Marcel Bloch bought land in Saint-Cloud on which he began to build a new factory.

Marcel Bloch is arrested, imprisoned and deported to Nazi camps. Marcel Bloch’s staff took steps to preserve the interests of the SAAMB.

Marcel Bloch is liberated. The company is reorganized under the Société des Avions Marcel Bloch (SAMB). To facilitate the managing of the factories, Marcel Bloch set up subsidiaries; one of them being the Société des Moteurs et Hélices Marcel Bloch company, the head office of which was located in Saint-Cloud.

Marcel Bloch becomes Marcel Bloch-Dassault.

The SAMB becomes the Société des Avions Marcel Dassault (SAMD). For the MD 315 Flamant’s (Flamingo) production, a large factory is constructed in Merignac.

Marcel Bloch-Dassault becomes Marcel Dassault. The MD 450 Ouragan (Hurricane) is the first jet fighter designed and built in France.

Mystère II becomes the 1st French supersonic aircraft.

1st design of Dassault’s first business jet the Méditerranée. The idea is abandoned for reasons of cost and fuel consumption.

MD 550 Mystère Delta (Mirage I): prototype of military aircraft with a delta wing configuration.

Launch of the Mirage III, 1st French operational military aircraft with a delta wing configuration (1,400 are produced and 80% for export). One of the evolutions will be the Mirage III-V, as of today the only Mach 2 fighter with VTOL capabilities.

Etendard IVM production begins, Dassault’s successful carrier-borne naval fighter. One aircraft is on the USS Intrepid (New York).

Dassault and Sud-Aviation work on the Concorde.

Dassault and Sud-Aviation work on the Mystere 20, father to the Falcon 20 Series. Pan Am establishes its Business Jets Division and places order for 40 Falcon 20s with option for another 120.

Falcon 20 deliveries begin in the U.S., and French and U.S. type certificates are granted.

Launch of the Mirage F2 and F1 (scaled down version). Over 650 Mirage F1s are built.

Europe Falcon Service (now called Dassault Falcon Service) is founded in Le Bourget as a major service center and FBO.

Breguet Aviation is merged into the Dassault Group, known as Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation. The merger will be finalized in 1971.

150-passenger Mercure is launched.

Federal Express starts its U.S. operation with Falcon 20 Freighters (33 aircraft purchased). Pan Am and Dassault jointly establish Falcon Jet Corp. to service and maintain Pan Am’s Falcon 20 fleet. Launched in 1970, the Falcon 10 receives type certification.

Design of Dassault’s 1st trijet aircraft called Falcon 20-3 which will evolve into the Falcon 50 with a new supercritical wing to optimize its performance (1976: 1st flight of F50). This wing is still in use for the Falcon 2000 and Falcon 900 Series.

Falcon Jet acquires Little Rock Airmotive, which had long been doing completions and modifications especially on F20 for Federal Express.

Marcel Dassault receives the “Daniel Guggenheim Medal”, for notable achievement in development, production and marketing of many types of aircraft of high performance and outstanding leadership in world aviation.

Mirage 2000 begins test: 1st European aircraft with full fly-by-wire.

Falcon 50 receives U.S. type certificate and deliveries begin on schedule. 1st civil aircraft to be certified with a vital component made of composite material (Carbon Fiber Ailerons).

Dassault acquires Pan Am’s share of Falcon Jet Corp. and becomes sole owner.

1st outside applications of CATIA, the 3D CAD/CAM system created by Dassault. Later on Dassault will create a new entity to promote and develop the 3D solution: Dassault Systèmes. Falcon 100 and Falcon 200 are announced.

Falcon 900 Series (announced in 1984) receives US and French type certificate and customer deliveries begin. 1st flight of the Rafale A, the new demonstrator of Dassault’s combat aircraft, for omnirole missions. This omnirole fighter program will lead to the Rafale C, B and M. Marcel Dassault dies and Serge Dassault is elected Chairman and CEO of Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation.

Roll out of the 1,000th Falcon. Midway Aircraft Instrument Co. is founded as a subsidiary of Industrial Procurement Services (IPS) and Falcon Jet Corp. Midway performs instrument work for Falcon Jet Corp. as well as many other corporate and airline customer.

Creation of A-PRO (Aero Precision Repair and Overhaul), a joint venture of Falcon Jet Corp. and Messier-Bugatti. It services all Dassault flight controls systems as well as Messier-Bugatti landing gear, brakes and associated equipment.

1st Flight of the Rafale C01 and M01, French Air Force and Navy configuration.

Falcon Jet Corp. is renamed Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. (DFJ Corp.). Little Rock becomes the new main completion center for Falcon aircraft. Announced in 1989, the Falcon 2000 enters into service.

Falcon 900EX (launched in 1994) is delivered to its first customer.

DFJ Corp. moves into its new (and current) headquarters at Teterboro Airport. Dassault discloses preliminary design work toward possible launch of a supersonic Falcon.

For the first time, Dassault’s revenue from business aircraft exceeds revenue from military activities.

Charles Edelstenne replaces Serge Dassault as Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. Dassault acquires Atlantic Aviation’s facility at New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

Falcon 2000EX receives FAA and EASA certification and begins deliveries. The EASy flight deck receives certification from the FAA and EASA and deliveries of the F900EX EASy start almost immediately.

Entry into service of the Rafale M.

Falcon 900DX, launched in 2003, is delivered to its first customer.

Announced in 2001, the Falcon 7X is granted FAA and EASA certification and is delivered to its first customer. Falcon opens a state-of-the-art Technical Center in St. Cloud, France, adding to the 2 other Technical Centers, located in Teterboro, New Jersey and Boise, Idaho.

F2000DX, announced in 2005, receives certification and enters into service.

F7X receives approval from EASA for operations out of London City Airport. Opening of 2 new Dassault MRO facilities: Reno Tahoe Int’l Airport, Nevada and Sorocaba Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. New cabin interior design for the F7X from a collaborative effort between Dassault and BMW Group Designworks USA. Announced in 2007, the 1st F2000LX enters into service. Delivery of the 2,000th Falcon.

F900LX receives FAA and EASA certification. Certification of the Enhanced Flight Vision System on the Falcon 7X. Delivery of the 100th Falcon 7X. Falcon 2000LX certified to operate out of London City Airport. Opening of the Falcon office in Beijing.

Maiden Flight of the F2000S. Falcon fleet reaches 15,000,000 million flight hours EASA and FAA certification for EASy II on the Falcon 900LX.

Falcon 7X fleet reaches a milestone 100,000 flight hours. Falcon 2000S receives “Good Design” award for BMW interior. Dassault’s Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) known as the ‘nEUROn’ makes its first flight. Falcon 2000LXS introduced

Falcon 5X program announced. Falcon 2000S and 2000LXS deliveries begin.

Ultra long-range Falcon 8X program launched. Two Falcon 900s dedicated to Falcon Airborne Support to provide alternate lift to AOG customers. Falcon 2000S and 2000LXS approved for London City Airport.

FalconResponse launched for faster AOG service. Little Rock completions center completed 350,000 sq. ft. expansion.

Falcon 8X entered service with first customer delivery.

Falcon Eye combined vision system certified for Falcon 8X. Dassault delivered its 2,500th business jet. Falcon 5X program terminated. Falcon 8X approved for London City Airport.

Falcon 6X program announced, setting new standard in long-range large-cabin market.

Jean Rosanvallon retired and Thierry Betbeze appointed CEO. Dassault acquired the MRO businesses of TAG, RUAG, and ExecuJet. Customer Service received #1 ranking by both AIN and Pro Pilot product support surveys.

Dassault Customer Service ranked #1 in AIN product support survey.

Dassault announces development of the large cabin, ultra-long-range Falcon 10X.

Falcon 6X certified and enters service.