Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking the start of the aircraft’s flight test campaign, while Rolls-Royce’s new Pearl 10X engines reached a significant development milestone as they powered the aircraft’s inaugural sortie.
Successful maiden flight
Dassault Aviation has successfully completed the first flight of its Falcon 10X from Bordeaux-Mérignac, France, marking the transition of the company’s new flagship business jet from development into the flight test phase. The successful sortie represents a key programme milestone as certification activities move into their next stage.
The inaugural flight lasted two hours and 30 minutes. Test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and co-pilot Fabrice Dougnac evaluated aircraft handling and onboard systems before climbing to 40,000 ft and accelerating to Mach 0.82. The aircraft subsequently returned to Bordeaux-Mérignac, completing the flight as planned.
Dassault Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier described the flight as an important milestone for the programme, recognising the contribution of the company’s engineering, production and flight test teams together with its global industrial partners. The manufacturer confirmed that a second flight test aircraft will soon join the campaign, while a third aircraft equipped with a full interior will support systems, cabin functionality and reliability testing.
ROLLS-ROYCE PEARL 10X REACHES A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT MILESTONE
First Rolls-Royce engine for a Dassault business jet
Powering the Falcon 10X are two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines, making this the first Rolls-Royce engine to be selected for a Dassault Aviation business jet. Rolls-Royce said the successful maiden flight represents a major milestone for both companies as the aircraft progresses towards certification and entry into service.
According to Rolls-Royce, the Pearl 10X development programme has accumulated more than 4,000 hours of testing across ground and flight development activities. This includes a six-month campaign aboard the company’s Boeing 747 flying testbed, during which the engine completed more than 25 flights covering approximately 36,000 nautical miles.
ENGINE DESIGNED FOR ULTRA-LONG-RANGE OPERATIONS
Performance and efficiency
The Pearl 10X delivers more than 18,000 lbf of thrust and incorporates Rolls-Royce’s Advance2 engine core together with an ultra-low emissions combustor compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The engine also features a redesigned accessory gearbox that enables increased aircraft power extraction.
Rolls-Royce says the engine has been developed to combine high thrust with improved fuel efficiency, supporting the Falcon 10X’s intended ultra-long-range mission profile while enhancing airport accessibility and high-speed cruise capability.
