Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X ultra-long-range business jet completed its maiden flight on June 19, 2026, officially launching the flight test and certification campaign for the manufacturer’s new flagship aircraft.

The successful sortie from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (LFBD) in France also represents a historic milestone for the airframer, as it is the first Dassault business jet to be powered by Rolls-Royce engines. In joint press releases issued by the companies, leadership praised the performance of the twin Pearl 10X powerplants during the inaugural flight.

Flight profile and initial evaluation

The Falcon 10X departed Bordeaux at 11:10 a.m. local time under the command of Dassault Test Pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Copilot Fabrice Dougnac. During the two-hour and 30-minute flight, the crew conducted an initial evaluation at 15,000 feet before expanding the envelope to a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and a top speed of Mach 0.82. The aircraft returned to Bordeaux at 1:40 p.m. local time.

Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier attributed the successful flight to the manufacturer’s engineering and production teams, as well as its global partner network.

“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,” Dupont de Dinechin stated following the landing.

Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X integration

The Falcon 10X is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines, each capable of producing more than 18,000 pounds of thrust. Prior to the maiden flight of the Falcon 10X, the engine program accumulated more than 4,000 hours of testing. This included a rigorous six-month flight test campaign utilizing a Boeing 747 flying testbed, during which the Pearl 10X completed more than 25 flights and covered 36,000 nautical miles.

Philipp Zeller, Senior Vice President for Dassault Business Aviation at Rolls-Royce, noted that the successful integration serves as a testament to the engine manufacturer’s position in the ultra-long-range business aviation sector.

Certification path and test fleet

Dassault officially announced the Falcon 10X program in 2021 and rolled out the first test aircraft in Bordeaux on March 10, 2026. The manufacturer plans to utilize a fleet of three aircraft for the flight test campaign. The first prototype is dedicated to flight envelope expansion. A second test aircraft is currently nearing completion, while a third will be outfitted with a full cabin interior to evaluate functionality and reliability.

The Falcon 10X is designed to offer a maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 0.925. Dassault is targeting type certification and entry into service for 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The successful maiden flight of the Falcon 10X moves Dassault closer to fielding a direct competitor in the highly contested ultra-long-range business jet segment. We note that the 10X enters a market currently dominated by the Bombardier Global 7500 and 8000, as well as the Gulfstream G700 and G800 programs. Gulfstream recently delivered its 100th G700 in June 2026, highlighting the strong demand and established competition in this category. Dassault’s strategy relies heavily on the Falcon 10X’s cabin dimensions, which the company markets as the largest cross-section in its class, paired with the proven performance of the Rolls-Royce Pearl engine family.

Sources: Rolls-Royce

Hong Kong-based Metrojet Limited has integrated the first Bombardier Global 8000 into the Asian business aviation market, expanding its managed fleet with the industry’s fastest production civilian aircraft.

In a press release issued on June 12, 2026, the company announced the arrival of the ultra-long-range jet at its Hong Kong headquarters. The addition follows the Global 8000’s entry into service in December 2025 and highlights the region’s adoption of next-generation business aircraft capable of connecting major global financial hubs non-stop.

Fleet integration and operational capabilities

Metrojet, founded in 1997 by the Kadoorie family, will provide comprehensive management and maintenance services for the new aircraft. The operator leverages its established maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to support the airframe. The company operates a dedicated MRO facility in Clark, Philippines, which opened in 2012.

Metrojet Chief Executive Officer Dave Yip noted that the company is already fielding inquiries from other Bombardier owners looking to utilize their management services.

“This milestone is a defining moment for Metrojet. The arrival of the Global 8000 demonstrates our ability to deliver world-class management solutions for the most sophisticated aircraft in the industry,” Yip said. “With our established Bombardier maintenance capabilities, we are confident in providing them with the same excellence and assurance that has long defined Metrojet.”

The integration of the new airframe required specific operational preparation. Stewart Borg, Metrojet’s Director of Flight Operations, emphasized the technical demands of adding the flagship jet to the active roster. He stated that the process required precision and strong expertise from the operations team to ensure the aircraft met the company’s safety standards.

Global 8000 specifications and certification timeline

The Bombardier Global 8000 brings specific performance metrics to the Metrojet fleet. The aircraft features a maximum range of 8,000 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 0.95, making it the fastest civilian aircraft currently in production. Its high-speed cruise is rated at Mach 0.92.

The jet also features advanced pressurization systems. It maintains a cabin altitude of 2,691 feet when cruising at 41,000 feet, a metric Bombardier cites as the lowest in the business aviation sector.

The aircraft completed a rapid certification sweep late last year. Transport Canada issued type certification on November 5, 2025, followed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 19, 2025. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted its approval shortly after on January 23, 2026.

Expanding international footprint

The placement of the first Global 8000 in Asia coincides with Bombardier’s broader international rollout of the type. In June 2026, the Canadian manufacturer also expanded the aircraft’s presence into the African market, delivering a unit to the Nigeria-based BUA Group.

These deliveries mark the transition from the certification phase to active global operations for Bombardier’s new flagship, which replaces the Global 7500 at the top of the manufacturer’s product line.

AirPro News analysis

We view Metrojet’s acquisition of the first Asian-based Global 8000 as a strong indicator of the region’s demand for ultra-long-range business aviation. The 8,000-nautical-mile range is particularly relevant for Hong Kong operators, allowing unrefueled flights to nearly anywhere in North-America or Europe. Metrojet’s existing MRO infrastructure in the Philippines positions the company to capture secondary maintenance revenue as more Global 8000s enter the Asia-Pacific market. Bombardier’s ability to place its flagship aircraft in both Asia and Africa within six months of entry into service demonstrates solid international backlog execution.

Sources: Metrojet Limited

Dassault Aviation officially launched the flight test campaign for its new flagship ultra-long-range business jet on June 19, 2026, as the Falcon 10X completed a two-hour and 30-minute maiden flight from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (LFBD) in France.

The inaugural flight transitions the Falcon 10X program from development into active certification testing, targeting entry into service in 2027. According to a press release issued by Dassault Aviation, the aircraft reached an altitude of 40,000 feet and a speed of Mach 0.82 during the initial evaluation.

Flight profile and test program structure

Taking off at 11:10 a.m. local time, the aircraft was crewed by Dassault Aviation test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac. The crew conducted an initial systems evaluation at 15,000 feet before climbing to the flight’s maximum altitude of 40,000 feet. The aircraft landed back at Bordeaux-Mérignac at 1:40 p.m. local time.

Following the flight, Dupont de Dinechin stated the milestone 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,” Dupont de Dinechin said.

Dassault Aviation will utilize three aircraft for the flight test program. The first prototype is dedicated to flight envelope expansion. A second test aircraft is currently nearing completion and will be used for systems and performance validation. A third aircraft will be outfitted with a full interior to conduct cabin functional and reliability testing.

Performance specifications and engine integration

The Falcon 10X is positioned to compete in the ultra-long-range, large-cabin business jet market. Official Dassault specifications list a maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles and a top speed capability of Mach 0.925. The aircraft also features the manufacturer’s new NeXus flight deck.

Powering the aircraft are two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines. In a separate statement, Rolls-Royce confirmed the engines successfully powered the maiden flight, marking the start of rigorous airframe and engine testing to deliver key data for final certification. Each Pearl 10X engine produces more than 18,000 pounds of thrust.

Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier highlighted the collaborative effort behind the milestone, describing the flight as a reflection of the dedication of the engineering, production, and flight teams, as well as the quality of the company’s global network of partners.

Program timeline and market positioning

Dassault Aviation officially launched the Falcon 10X program on May 6, 2021. The first prototype was rolled out to the public on March 10, 2026, at an event in Mérignac attended by over 400 customers, partners, and aviation executives.

According to reporting by Aviation International News, Dassault is targeting type certification and entry into service for the Falcon 10X in 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The successful maiden flight of the Falcon 10X keeps Dassault on a competitive timeline in the lucrative ultra-long-range business jet segment. By utilizing three dedicated test aircraft, the manufacturer is structuring a parallel testing campaign designed to compress the timeline between first flight and final certification. We expect the integration of the Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines and the new NeXus flight deck to be primary focus areas during the initial flight envelope expansion phase over the coming months.

Sources: Dassault Aviation