Dassault Falcon 10X Completes Maiden Flight in Bordeaux

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