Teterboro, N.J.-based Dassault Falcon Jet–the wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation that is responsible for Falcon sales and service in the Americas, Pacific Rim and China–celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday. On Dec. 1, 1972, executives from Pan American Airways and Dassault Aviation signed an agreement to form what is now known as Dassault Falcon Jet to expand the U.S. market with Pan American, the launch customer for the Falcon 20.

“Some of the most recognized names in aviation have their history intertwined with ours,” said John Rosanvallon, president and CEO at Dassault Falcon Jet and executive vice president for civil aircraft at French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. “Charles Lindbergh and Juan Trippe launched Pan American Business Jets with the Falcon 20. Fred Smith launched FedEx with a fleet of Falcons. The U.S. Coast Guard ushered in the age of jet powered search-and-rescue airplanes with the Falcon HU-25.”

Dassault Falcon Jet currently has about 3,000 employees scattered among its headquarters, completions and service centers and at subsidiaries in Florida, New Jersey and Beijing. To date, more than 2,200 Falcons have been delivered, about half of which are based in the U.S.