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A Private Jet with Military Technology? The Falcon 20G Was Equipped with an Afterburner to Reach Amazing Speeds, But the High Fuel Consumption and Prohibitive Costs Led to the Cancellation of the Project.
The aviation industry is always seeking innovation, but some ideas end up being exaggerated. In the 1980s, the U.S. Coast Guard tried something unusual: installing an afterburner on a private jet. The goal was to increase speed and improve emergency response. The result? A fast plane, but with such a high cost that the project was canceled.
The Crazy Idea to Turbocharge a Private Jet
The afterburner is a common technology in military jets. It injects extra fuel into the engine’s exhaust, increasing power and allowing for instant acceleration. The idea of using it in a private jet seemed promising. The aircraft could reach missions for search, rescue, and interception of suspicious targets more quickly.
But in practice, it wasn’t that simple.
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The Falcon 20 – The Private Jet Chosen for the Experiment
The chosen model was the Falcon 20, a French private jet from Dassault. It was already a success in the corporate aviation sector and even used by FedEx for cargo transport.
- Maximum Speed: 862 km/h
- Range: 3,350 km
- Capacity: 10 passengers
The structure of the Falcon 20 was sturdy, making it a good candidate for more powerful engines.
How Was the Private Jet Modified?
To support the afterburner, the Coast Guard made several modifications to the aircraft:
- Replaced the engines with more powerful versions.
- Added a titanium heat shield to the fuselage to withstand heat.
- Adjusted the fuel systems to accommodate the higher consumption.
The tests were successful. The plane gained speed and reached its destination much faster.
The Reason for Failure: Absurd Fuel Consumption
Despite the good performance, the project did not move forward. The afterburner consumed so much fuel that it drastically reduced the range of the private jet. Maintenance costs were extremely high. In the end, the benefits did not outweigh the costs.
In 1988, the project was officially canceled.
862 km por hora,todos os jatos de hoje até passa dessa velocidade sem pós combustor!