On May 4, 1963 the first flight of the Mystere 20 took place at Bordeaux-Merignac airport. 50 years on, Dassault marked the occasion with a celebratory event in France. Aviation Week's Business & Commercial Aviation's editor-in-chief, Bill Garvey, and I were invited to join in the celebrations.
Three Falcons took off from Paris Le Bourget airport on Wednesday 24 April: a 7X, 900LX and 2000S. At around 16,000ft., in the skies above southwest France, the Falcons were 'intercepted' by a French Air Force Rafale C, accompanied by a privately-owned L-39C. Renowned aviation photographer Katsuhiko Tokunaga captured the formation from aboard the L-39C. Here are a handful of photos. Look out next week for my blog with many more photos and a video from this spectacular day.
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/033IFAG_130424_00297q.jpg)
The brand new 2000S entered service with this special flight (credit Katsuhiko Tokunaga).
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/rupa1q.jpeg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/rupa2.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/rupa3.jpeg)
And here are some more of Katsuhiko Tokunaga's photos:
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/Falcon/033IFAG_130424_00013q.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/Falcon/033IFAG_130424_00173q.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/Falcon/033IFAG_130424_00262q.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/Falcon/033IFAG_130424_00344q.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationweek.com/Portals/AWeek/TWW/Falcon/033IFAG_130424_00658q.jpg)
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