NASA, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has unveiled the revolutionary X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft, a groundbreaking experimental plane poised to revolutionize air travel by collecting transformative data. This collaboration represents a major achievement in Lockheed Martin’s and NASA’s extensive efforts spanning decades to address the persistent challenge of supersonic flight.

The primary focus of this innovative project is to overcome the limitations associated with supersonic flight, particularly the impact of sonic booms, thereby paving the way for a new era of high-speed, quiet, and efficient commercial aircraft.

In this Article, we’ll explore five compelling facts about the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft, shedding light on the technology and advancements.

1. Impressive Speeds: The X-59 is anticipated to reach speeds of 1.4 times the speed of sound, equivalent to 925 mph. Its innovative design and cutting-edge technologies not only enable these high speeds but also ensure a quieter sonic thump, marking a significant advancement in supersonic flight.
2. Upcoming Maiden Flight: Scheduled for later this year, the X-59 is poised to take off for its inaugural flight, marking the beginning of a new era in quiet supersonic aviation. The first quiet supersonic flight will follow, conducted by the Quesst team, initially at Skunk Works before transitioning to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
3. Unique Features: The X-59 stands out as a distinctive experimental airplane rather than a prototype, showcasing technologies intended to shape the future of quiet supersonic aircraft. With dimensions of 99.7 feet in length and 29.5 feet in width, the aircraft incorporates a thin, tapered nose, responsible for breaking up shock waves and mitigating the sonic boom typically associated with supersonic flight.
4. Innovative Design: The aircraft’s cockpit, situated almost halfway down its length, deviates from the traditional forward-facing window configuration. Instead, the Quesst team has introduced the eXternal Vision System, a sophisticated setup of high-resolution cameras feeding a 4K monitor in the cockpit.
5. Engine: Additionally, the X-59’s engine placement on top, coupled with a smooth underside, works to prevent the merging of shockwaves behind the aircraft, effectively minimizing the production of a sonic boom. The X-59’s revolutionary design and features position it as a trailblazer in the quest for quieter and faster supersonic air travel.