NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is approaching one of the most important stages of its development. The experimental X-plane is set to begin a new series of test flights that will include its first trip beyond the speed of sound, along with several other key objectives for the mission.
"What comes next is the first time this one-of-a-kind aircraft will fly supersonic," said Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA's Low Boom Flight Demonstrator. "We are starting toward the mission conditions test point that X-59 was designed for."
Following months of flight testing, the X-59 team reviewed its progress in late May and is now preparing for a new phase that will push the aircraft to greater altitudes and higher speeds. These flights are intended to show how the aircraft performs under the operating conditions required for NASA's Quesst mission, which aims to collect data on quiet supersonic flight.
First Supersonic Flights Ahead
NASA expects the X-59 to exceed the speed of sound for the first time during test flights scheduled for early June. The aircraft is expected to fly at more than 630 mph at an altitude of about 43,000 feet, marking a major milestone in the program.
