SAINT-CLOUD, France, June 20 — Dassault Aviation’s all-new Falcon 10X business jet has successfully completed its first flight, marking a key milestone in the program and the beginning of its flight test campaign, the company said on Friday.
According to the official statement, test pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac took off from runway 23 at Bordeaux-Mérignac at 11:10 a.m. local time for a two-hour and 30-minute flight.
During the mission, the pilots evaluated handling qualities and systems at 15,000 feet before retracting the landing gear and all movable surfaces. The aircraft later climbed to 40,000 feet, where it reached speeds of up to Mach 0.82 before returning for a smooth landing at 1:40 p.m.
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier said the flight reflects the strength of the company’s engineering and production teams.
“This inaugural flight is another milestone for Dassault. 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,” Trappier said.
Test pilot Dupont de Dinechin described the flight as the result of years of coordinated effort.
“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,” he said.
The company said the first aircraft will soon be followed by a second test aircraft currently nearing completion, while a third aircraft, fitted with a full interior, will be used mainly for systems and cabin reliability testing.
Dassault Aviation noted that it remains the only aircraft manufacturer in the world to have a completely new aircraft in flight testing in 2026.
The company, which has a 110-year history, has delivered more than 10,000 military and civil aircraft, including about 2,800 Falcon business jets, across more than 90 countries.
It is known globally for designing and producing aircraft ranging from the Rafale fighter jet to Falcon business jets, as well as military drones and space systems.
According to its official data, Dassault Aviation employed around 15,000 people in 2025 and reported revenues of €7.4 billion. (ANI)
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