Falcon 900Dassault announced it was developing a new intercontinental range large size business jet based on the Falcon 50 on May 27, 1983, at the Paris Airshow. The prototype, "Spirit of Lafayette", flew for the first time on September 21, 1984. A second prototype flew on August 30, 1985, and this aircraft demonstrated the type's long range potential by flying nonstop from Paris to Little Rock, Arkansas in the USA for a demonstration tour. French certification