Second Falcon 10X prototype begins flight testing
Dassault's second Falcon 10X test aircraft has flown three times since a maiden sortie on 24 September, joining the lead prototype at Istres. Service entry for the ultra-long-range business jet is now targeted for 2029.
Dassault Aviation's second Falcon 10X prototype has completed three flights since its first sortie on 24 September, according to flight tracking data. The aircraft, registered F-WTEN, flew on 24 September, 28 September and 2 October, and has joined the programme's lead prototype, F-WINS, at Istres air base in southern France.
The manufacturer did not issue a standalone announcement for the maiden flight. It disclosed the milestone in its regular Falcon Flightline email update, which said only that a second aircraft is now flying.
The first prototype is conducting roughly three test missions each week, Dassault said, with flight tracking data indicating its most recent sortie was on 2 October. Each flight runs for about four hours, part of what the company described as a step-by-step effort to expand the envelope to higher speeds, angles of attack and altitudes.
The highest speed reached so far by the Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X-powered jet is Mach 0.85, which is its long-range cruise speed.
Dassault now expects the Falcon 10X to enter service in 2029. The company pushed back an earlier target of late 2027 in July.
Sources
- flightglobal.comDassault advances Falcon 10X test campaign as second prototype joins fleet