NASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic Jet Advances with Critical Taxi Tests
📷 Image source: images-assets.nasa.gov
NASA's experimental X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft has entered a pivotal phase of testing, with taxi trials now underway at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. The aircraft, designed to minimize sonic booms, recently completed low-speed taxi tests—a key step before its first flight. These ground tests evaluate the X-59's steering, braking, and systems functionality under real-world conditions.
The X-59 aims to revolutionize supersonic flight by reducing the disruptive sonic boom to a mere 'sonic thump,' potentially paving the way for commercial supersonic travel over land. NASA plans to conduct community overflights in select U.S. cities to gather public feedback on the noise levels, with data informing future aviation regulations.
Additional reporting from Aviation Week confirms that the X-59's taxi tests mark progress toward a 2024 maiden flight. The project, part of NASA's Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator program, could reshape air travel by making supersonic flights quieter and more accessible.
