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The current Falcon 900 and 2000 series aircraft's lineage is clearly evident in this shot of the Mystere in flight. Three Mystere 20s were on strength with 34 Squadron between 1967 and 1989, when the unit's three aircraft types were replaced with the Falcon 900 trijet. (Defence PR)
Aircraft of the ADF-A11 Dassault Mystere
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A11 Dassault Mystere 20
In 1965, when the Hawker Siddeley HS. 748 was chosen as a navigation trainer and VIP transport for the RAAF, two other types were selected for No 34 Squadron’s VIP duties. These were three Dassault Mystere 20 and two BAC-111 aircraft.
Built jointly by Generale Aeronautique Marcel Dassault and Sud-Aviation, the Mystere 20 was based upon the and structurally proven wing of the Dassault Mystere family of fighter aircraft. Coincidentally, another popular executive jet had a similar lineage. The Gates Learjet was built around the wing of a fighter project developed in Switzerland.
The prototype Mystere 20, registered F-WMSH, flew on May 4 1963 with US Pratt & Whitney JT12A turbojets, but these engines were later changed to General Electric CF700s, and in this form flew on July 10 1964. The first production Mystere 20 flew on January 1 1965.
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The three RAAF aircraft were Mystere 20C models. The first, Al1-078 (Dassault constructor’s number 78/412) was first flown with French ferry registration F-WNGM and was delivered on May 31 1967. A11-078 was then flown from France to RAAF Fairbairn on June 7 1967. Captain on this ferry was Squadron Leader Geoff Kilby, with copilot Squadron Leader Barry Gration (now Air Marshal Gration, Chief of Air Staff), who then captained the second ferry.
The second aircraft, A11-085 (c/n 85/425 F-WMKH), was delivered on June 24 1967 and arrived at Fairbairn on August 4. The last aircraft was Al1-090 (c/n 90/426 F-WNGL), delivered on August 3 1967, was received at 34 Squadron on August 14.
By this stage the Mystere had also become known as the Fan Jet Falcon, or the Falcon 20, after a large order by the American airline PanAm. Due to the mark of engines selected, the RAAF model became the Falcon 20C. (The 400 series constructor’s numbers indicated that the aircraft had been built to meet US FAA specification. ) The Falcon 20 was a fast VIP transport, configured to seat eight passengers. It was the only RAAF transport aircraft to have the capability to deploy a drag chute on landing. The range was limited to about 800 nautical miles (1500 kilometres), which restricted its use primarily to short haul eastern coast shuttle services. However, the Mystere also operated throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea, and through its RAAF service these three aircraft clocked up a total of 30,000 flying hours.
With the delivery in 1989 of the new Falcon 900 VIP trans- ports, the three Mysteres 20Cs were traded in to Hawker Pacific. In December 1989, with their RAAF markings removed, the aircraft were ferried to Sydney with civil registrations: A11-078 as VH-JSX, A11-085 as VH-JSY and A11-090 as VH-JSZ. All had been delivered by December 14, and were due to fly to UK in early January 1990. This did not occur and the aircraft were sold to Pel-Air Aviation, an Australian freight and charter operator.
In December 1990 Pel-Air sold two of the Falcon 20Cs, VH-JSX and VH-JSY, to Hunter Aviation of Maryland, USA, where these became registered N6555C and N6555L. VH-JSZ (ex A11-090) still flies in Australia with Pel-Air.
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