NASA's X-59, a supersonic experimental jet designed to reduce noise, has successfully completed its first test flight over the Mojave Desert in California. The aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, took off from US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale and flew at speeds of up to 240 mph before landing near NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards.
The X-59 is part of a decades-long effort to develop supersonic flight technology that can be used for commercial airliners. The plane's unique design features a long, slender nose that breaks up pressure waves, reducing the sonic boom effect when flying at high speeds. Its engine is mounted on top of the fuselage, which helps to direct sound waves upwards rather than downwards.
The X-59's first flight was a major milestone in the development of supersonic flight technology. The aircraft's speed and altitude will be gradually increased over future tests, with the goal of reaching Mach 1.4 (around 925 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
NASA aims to provide key data to aircraft manufacturers so they can build less noisy supersonic planes. The agency has been working on this project for decades, using computational fluid dynamics research and wind tunnel testing to refine the design.
Once the X-59 reaches supersonic speeds, NASA plans to conduct a test campaign where it will fly over various communities in the US, polling them with surveys to understand how annoyed people are by the sonic booms. The goal is to establish a sound limit rather than a speed limit for commercial supersonic aircraft.
If successful, this project could pave the way for new commercial supersonic aircraft that would cut travel times in half. The X-59 has joined the ranks of innovative NASA X-planes, dating back almost 80 years to the Bell X-1 that Chuck Yeager piloted on the first faster-than-sound flight in 1947.
For James Less, a project pilot for the X-59, this is the highlight of his career. He grew up reading about the X-planes and never imagined he'd be involved in something like this.
The X-59 is part of a decades-long effort to develop supersonic flight technology that can be used for commercial airliners. The plane's unique design features a long, slender nose that breaks up pressure waves, reducing the sonic boom effect when flying at high speeds. Its engine is mounted on top of the fuselage, which helps to direct sound waves upwards rather than downwards.
The X-59's first flight was a major milestone in the development of supersonic flight technology. The aircraft's speed and altitude will be gradually increased over future tests, with the goal of reaching Mach 1.4 (around 925 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
NASA aims to provide key data to aircraft manufacturers so they can build less noisy supersonic planes. The agency has been working on this project for decades, using computational fluid dynamics research and wind tunnel testing to refine the design.
Once the X-59 reaches supersonic speeds, NASA plans to conduct a test campaign where it will fly over various communities in the US, polling them with surveys to understand how annoyed people are by the sonic booms. The goal is to establish a sound limit rather than a speed limit for commercial supersonic aircraft.
If successful, this project could pave the way for new commercial supersonic aircraft that would cut travel times in half. The X-59 has joined the ranks of innovative NASA X-planes, dating back almost 80 years to the Bell X-1 that Chuck Yeager piloted on the first faster-than-sound flight in 1947.
For James Less, a project pilot for the X-59, this is the highlight of his career. He grew up reading about the X-planes and never imagined he'd be involved in something like this.
? I mean I know some people have to travel long distances for work or family, but I'm not sure I could ever get on a plane that's breaking the sound barrier 
. But hey if it cuts travel times in half, who am I to judge right? 
The thing is though, what about all the noise pollution 
? NASA's idea of polling people on how annoyed they are by sonic booms sounds kinda cheesy 
but I suppose it's better than just ignoring the issue. Fingers crossed this project works out and we get quieter planes too 
.
️. Can't imagine flying at 900+ mph daily though - that's just crazy talk! But hey, tech innovation is cool and NASA's been working on this for decades... gotta respect that 
. The idea of reducing noise for supersonic flights is genius - can you imagine being able to fly from LA to NY in under 2 hours without having to deal with those annoying sonic booms? 
I'm actually kinda excited about the possibility of commercial supersonic aircraft changing the game for air travel 
. Of course, they need to make sure it's safe and doesn't disrupt communities, but from a purely technical standpoint, this is pretty cool 
.
I'm also loving the idea of NASA collaborating with aircraft manufacturers to create less noisy planes. It's not just about the tech, it's about making travel more enjoyable for everyone.
... I saw that video of SpaceX's Starship test flight last week and it made me think, have you guys tried those new blue tortilla chips? They're actually pretty good! 
Anyway, back to the X-59... I mean, 240 mph is crazy fast! I feel like we're still playing catch-up with supersonic flight tech. What's next, sonic-powered cars? 
?