Trappier: Falcon 10X Staying on Tight Schedule for 2025

Dassault has completed wind tunnel tests and begun production of the first primary parts for its ultra-long-range Falcon 10X and is still aiming for the aircraft's service entry in late 2025. During the company's first-half results announcement on Wednesday, chairman and CEO Eric Trappier said these plans for service entry were ambitious as the aircraft remains on a tight schedule against the backdrop of industry-wide supply chain issues and lingering Covid difficulties.

He noted that given the 10X’s 7,500-nm range, Dassault has given the cabin—which will be the widest for a purpose-built business jet at nine-feet one-inch—particular attention to comfort and efficiency. He was pleased that the cabin, a mockup of which has been on tour, has already begun to capture accolades, including the Red Dot Award.

Trappier also gave updates regarding the Mach 0.925 aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines, which have now amassed more than 1,000 hours, and said the program is progressing well.

The company's 5,500-nm Falcon 6X, meanwhile, is prepping for service entry around the middle of next year. Trappier noted that the company had announced the schedule slip in May as the Covid crisis pushed out the first delivery slightly. The aircraft is now wrapping up a four-week, 50-stop world tour that has involved 150 hours and three flight-test aircraft that as of late June had accrued 900 hours.