NASA's experimental aircraft reached a major milestone last week by achieving supersonic speed.
It's a first for the agency as it moves closer to demonstrating a new era of quieter high-speed flight.
"X-59 is getting ready for its quiet supersonic debut," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. "Since the aircraft's first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, the team has made tremendous progress."
The X-59, flown by test pilot Jim "Clue" Less, reached a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1 (713 mph) during an 81-minute flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Friday. Less reached an altitude of 43,400 feet before returning to the base. In the past 90 days, the team has flown 16 times to achieve a consistent testing pace.
"The X-59 doesn't have a forward-facing window," Less said in a video shared before his flight. "So I won't be able to see where I'm going without a little help."
