In 1973, Dassault began planning a long-range, intercontinental version of the Falcon 20. The first idea was to go with a two-engine aircraft but they later elected to go with three engines for airline standards of safety. When the engineers showed their plans to Marcel Dassault, he told them to proceed but to also put the aircraft on the new supercritical wing that was already being designed for the Falcon 10. Three Honeywell TFE-731 engines mounted in the tail section power the Falcon 50. When the engineers were finished computer designing the Falcon 50, it not only had a new supercritical wing but also a new lightweight fuselage.
Production of the Falcon 50 stopped in 1996 due to the introduction of the Falcon 900. However, customers kept requesting it so Dassault brought it back, re-engined the Falcon 50 with the new Honeywell TFE 731-40, and called it the Falcon 50EX.
The Falcon 50EX's maiden flight was on April 10, 1996.
