Dassault Aviation Falcon 10X completes maiden flight
Dassault claims to be the only aircraft manufacturer in the world to have a completely new aircraft in flight in 2026.
Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X has completed its first flight, marking the launch of the flight test campaign.
Test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and co-pilot Fabrice Dougnac took off from runway 23 at Bordeaux-Mérignac at 11:10am today for a two-hour and 30-minute flight.
The pilots evaluated handling qualities and systems at 15,000ft, then retracted the landing gear and all movable surfaces before climbing to 40,000ft, where they accelerated to Mach 0.82. After which the pair returned to Bordeaux-Mérignac, landing at 1:40pm.
“This inaugural flight is another milestone for Dassault,” said chairman and CEO Eric Trappier. “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.”
Dinechin added: “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, cabin functionality and reliability testing.
The maiden flight follows the 10X’s unveiling in March 2026. Rumoured to cost anywhere between $75m and $100m, at the time Jean Kayanakis, senior vice president, Worldwide Falcon Customer Service & Service Center Network, told CJI Dassault believes the price is “competitive” with its ultra-long rivals.
The 10X features the biggest cabin volume in its class at 6ft 8 inches high, 9ft 1 inch wide and 53ft 10 inches long. There is a convertible crew rest area because the 10X is being certified for three pilots, an L-shaped shower with two windows and, in an industry first, room for a queen size bed. Power comes from two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines.
