Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X completed its maiden flight on June 19, marking the start of the flight test campaign for what is set to become the largest and longest-range business jet in the French manufacturer’s history.
The prototype departed from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport at 11:10 a.m. local time and remained airborne for two hours and 30 minutes. Test pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dougnac evaluated the aircraft’s handling qualities and onboard systems before climbing to 40,000 feet and reaching Mach 0.82.
According to Dassault, the flight met all planned objectives and demonstrated the maturity of the program as it transitions from ground testing to certification activities.
The Falcon 10X was launched in 2021 as Dassault’s answer to the growing demand for ultra-long-range business jets, a segment dominated by aircraft such as the Gulfstream G700 and Bombardier Global 8000.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines producing more than 18,000 pounds of thrust each, the aircraft is designed to fly up to 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 km) at Mach 0.85. That range would allow nonstop flights between city pairs such as New York and Shanghai, Los Angeles and Sydney, or São Paulo and Dubai.
A key feature of the Falcon 10X is its cabin, which Dassault describes as the largest in business aviation. The aircraft offers a cabin cross-section measuring 9 feet 1 inch (2.77 m) wide and 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) high, with seating for up to 19 passengers across three or four separate living areas.
To achieve its performance targets, the jet incorporates a new composite wing, revised aerodynamic shaping and a suite of flight-control technologies derived in part from Dassault’s military aircraft programs. These include automatic terrain avoidance, windshear recovery and upset recovery functions.
The first prototype will soon be joined by a second flight-test aircraft, while a third airframe is being completed with a full cabin interior for systems, reliability and cabin-function testing.
