Dassault Falcon 10X makes maiden flight

Dassault Aviation Falcon 10X has successfully completed its first flight, demonstrating the program’s maturity and marking the launch of the flight test campaign.Test Pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac took off from runway 23 at Bordeaux-Mérignac at 11.10 a.m. for a two-hour and 30 minute flight. The pilots evaluated handling qualities and systems at 15,000 feet, then retracted the landing gear and all movable surfaces before climbing to 40,000 feet, where they accelerated to Mach 0.82. They returned to Bordeaux-Mérignac for a smooth landing at 1.40 p.m.

Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier commented: “This inaugural flight is another milestone for Dassault. It is a reflection of the dedication and high skill of our engineering, production, and flight teams, and also the quality of our global network of partners. All of us are excited to see this day as we launch into a new phase for the 10X.”

Test Pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac took off from runway 23 at Bordeaux-Mérignac at 11.10 a.m. for a two-hour and 30 minute flight. The pilots evaluated handling qualities and systems at 15,000 feet, then retracted the landing gear and all movable surfaces before climbing to 40,000 feet, where they accelerated to Mach 0.82. They returned to Bordeaux-Mérignac for a smooth landing at 1.40 p.m.

Sébastien Dupont said: “Today’s flight was the culmination of years of work by thousands of Dassault employees and partners. It paid off in a flight that went as planned and was a delight to fly”.

The first aircraft will be soon followed into the air by a second test aircraft nearing completion, and by a third, that is being outfitted with a full interior and will be used mainly for systems and cabin functional and reliability testing. Dassault Aviation is the only aircraft manufacturer in the world to have a completely new aircraft in flight in 2026. Dassault’s dual expertise—in civil and defense—is a long-term strength for the company.

The 10X is powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines that deliver more than 18,000 lbs of thrust. It features advanced flight control technology and advanced structures including a single Smart Throttle controlling both engines; a more advanced head-up display (HUD); an automatic recovery mode for use in the event of an unusual attitude; an automatic terrain avoidance mode; an automatic windshear recovery mode; and additional fighter-inspired features that make the aircraft easier to hand-fly in challenging environments.

The Falcon 10X offers the most spacious cabin in business aviation. It has the largest cabin cross-section of any business jet, with a width of 9 feet, 1 inch and a height of 6 feet, 8 inches. It seats up to 19 passengers in three or four living zones, each with individual temperature control. The objective is to provide more personal space, comfort, and productivity.

To create such a large cabin while achieving long-range efficiency, the aircraft incorporates new aerodynamic shaping in the nose, fuselage fairing, and tail to reduce drag. It also features a new, fully composite wing for improved aerodynamics and reduced weight.

The 10X will fly 7,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.85, connecting city pairs that include New York to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Sydney, Paris to Santiago, and São Paulo to Dubai.