- News
- Jun 19, 2026
- 4 min read
Falcon 10X Completes First Test Flight
The French manufacturer plans to obtain type certification for its ultra-long-range model in 2027.
Dassault Aviation has flown its Falcon 10X for the first time, marking the start of a test program that is expected to culminate in type certification in 2027. The ultra-long-range business jet took off from Runway 23 at Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport at 11:10 local time and landed two and a half hours later, at 13:40. Test pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dugny were at the controls. They initially assessed the aircraft’s handling at 15,000 feet, then retracted the landing gear and movable surfaces and climbed to 40,000 feet, where they accelerated the aircraft to Mach 0.82.
The first prototype will soon be joined by a second, which is already nearing completion at the Mérignac plant. The third aircraft will have a fully equipped cabin and will be used mainly to test the interior systems, comfort and reliability of the passenger compartment. According to de Dinechin, the flight was the culmination of years of work by thousands of Dassault employees and partners, and everything went strictly according to plan, giving the team immense satisfaction.
The new Falcon was unveiled to the public for the first time at an event in Bordeaux on March 10. The model promises the most spacious cabin in its class, a range of up to 7,500 nautical miles with eight passengers and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925.
Group Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier called the first flight another significant milestone, emphasizing that it was the result of the dedication and professionalism of the engineering, manufacturing and flight teams, as well as the reliability of the global partner network. According to him, the company had eagerly awaited this day, which opens a new stage in the development of the 10X.
The aircraft was designed from scratch and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofan engines, each producing more than 18,000 pounds of thrust. The cockpit features NeXus avionics developed jointly with Honeywell.
Dassault Aviation has flown its Falcon 10X for the first time, marking the start of a test program that is expected to culminate in type certification in 2027. The ultra-long-range business jet took off from Runway 23 at Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport at 11:10 local time and landed two and a half hours later, at 13:40. Test pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dugny were at the controls. They initially assessed the aircraft’s handling at 15,000 feet, then retracted the landing gear and movable surfaces and climbed to 40,000 feet, where they accelerated the aircraft to Mach 0.82.
The first prototype will soon be joined by a second, which is already nearing completion at the Mérignac plant. The third aircraft will have a fully equipped cabin and will be used mainly to test the interior systems, comfort and reliability of the passenger compartment. According to de Dinechin, the flight was the culmination of years of work by thousands of Dassault employees and partners, and everything went strictly according to plan, giving the team immense satisfaction.
The new Falcon was unveiled to the public for the first time at an event in Bordeaux on March 10. The model promises the most spacious cabin in its class, a range of up to 7,500 nautical miles with eight passengers and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925.
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Group Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier called the first flight another significant milestone, emphasizing that it was the result of the dedication and professionalism of the engineering, manufacturing and flight teams, as well as the reliability of the global partner network. According to him, the company had eagerly awaited this day, which opens a new stage in the development of the 10X.
The aircraft was designed from scratch and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofan engines, each producing more than 18,000 pounds of thrust. The cockpit features NeXus avionics developed jointly with Honeywell.
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