N380CJ

N380CJ is a 1978 Dassault Falcon 20F‑5 (MSN 380) currently shown on U.S. registers and listed in operator directories as based at KFCM (Flying Cloud, Minneapolis). The airframe was long‑served in Australia (registrations including VH‑FAI) before returning to U.S. registration. The Falcon 20F‑5 is a two‑engine mid‑size business jet commonly configured for 8–10 executive passengers and frequently re‑engined or retrofitted with modern avionics and cabin upgrades.

This airframe is reported in operator/charter listings as a 9‑passenger executive jet and is associated with a Minneapolis/Flying Cloud operational base. Typical F‑5 powerplants are twin Garrett/Honeywell TFE731 turbofans rated around 4,500–4,750 lbf each; the type is used for short‑to‑medium international missions, air ambulance, and cargo/adapted roles as well as executive transport. Avionics on many F‑5 examples are Collins ProLine family retrofits; interiors vary by operator but commonly feature forward galley, enclosed aft lavatory, and club seating.

The Falcon 20 (Mystère 20) family is a proven 1960s‑era design widely re‑engined and upgraded over decades; the F‑5 conversions with TFE731 powerplants extended service life and improved economics. The model is valued for robust range (mid‑to‑high‑1,000s nm depending on fit), solid cruise speeds (high‑300s to mid‑400s kts depending on configuration), and a 41k–45k ft service ceiling. Older airframes trade at much lower prices than modern business jets but remain useful for niche missions and operators able to manage legacy‑type maintenance programs. Photographs, registry traces, and operator listings confirm MSN 380 was VH‑FAI in Australia and later returned to U.S. registration as N380CJ.