Dassault’s Falcon 10X is Finally Flying

French manufacturer’s longest-range airframe begins flight testing 5 years after it was announced.

Monday, June 22, 2026 at 01:06 PM ET

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Dassault’s Falcon 10X takes off from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France on its inaugural test flight. [Credit: Dassault Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Dassault Aviation's ultra-long-range Falcon 10X business jet successfully completed its two-and-a-half-hour maiden test flight on Friday from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport.
Designed to compete with rivals like the Gulfstream G800, the Falcon 10X aims to offer the most spacious cabin in business aviation, featuring multiple living zones and a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
The aircraft incorporates two powerful Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines and an advanced NeXus flight deck with a third-generation digital flight control system and side stick controller.

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Five years after Dassault Aviation announced its ultra-long-range Falcon 10X to compete with the likes of Gulfstream’s G800 and Bombardier’s Global 8000, the French manufacturer’s most ambitious business jet yet is airborne.

Dassault pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dougnac took off Friday from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport’s (LFBD) runway 23 and flew the 10X for two and a half hours on its debut test flight. The aircraft bears the French experimental registration F-WNXT.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.