Dassault’s Falcon 10X Completes Maiden Flight

The two-and-a-half-hour test flight launches a multi-aircraft campaign intended to prove systems and handling ahead of a 2027 certification and entry into service target.

Overview

The Falcon 10X completed its maiden flight on Friday, June 19, 2026, taking off from Bordeaux-Mérignac at 11:10 a.m., flying for two hours and 30 minutes, and landing at 1:40 p.m.
Dassault test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac evaluated handling and systems at 15,000 feet, climbed the jet to 40,000 feet, and reached Mach 0.82 during the flight.
Dassault will follow with at least two more test airframes: a second prototype nearing completion for performance testing and a third fitted with a full interior for systems and cabin reliability trials.
The 10X is promoted as an ultra-long-range executive jet with reported capability for up to 19 passengers, about 7,500 nautical miles of range, and a peak operating speed near Mach 0.925, positioning it against Bombardier and Gulfstream flagships.
Dassault frames the program as a major company milestone, noting its civil and defense expertise and saying it is the only manufacturer with a completely new aircraft in flight in 2026, a claim that could sharpen competition in the large business-jet market if certification proceeds on schedule.