X-59 takes off: Video shows first flight of the quiet supersonic jet

NASA has flown its experimental X-59 for the first time. The aircraft is intended to demonstrate that supersonic flight without a sonic boom is possible – and to offer hope for faster air travel.

• The new NASA experimental aircraft X-59 completed its maiden flight over California.
• The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speed without causing the typical loud sonic boom.
• After a successful test phase, the aircraft will fly over populated areas to analyze population reactions.

As the X-59 took off from the runway at Edwards Air Force Base, it looked like something out of a science fiction film: a narrow, pointed nose, a sleek fuselage, and no windshield in the cockpit. This was the first time the new NASA experimental aircraft had flown over California.

It boasts a groundbreaking feature: it is designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing the dreaded sonic boom. A video from the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, shows the spectacular maiden flight.

The X-59 is part of NASA’s QUESST program. QUESST stands for “Quiet Supersonic Technology.” NASA aims to investigate how the typical sonic boom can be significantly reduced through targeted aircraft design and whether a new era of supersonic flight over land is possible.

NASA is conducting tests at increasing speeds

According to NASA, the maiden flight marks the beginning of a longer testing phase. Initially, the X-59 will be tested on flights just below the speed of sound. Supersonic flights are planned only after that.

The aircraft is then expected to reach its intended cruising speed of Mach 1.4 (approximately 1,731 km/h) at an altitude of 17 kilometers. The characteristic sonic boom should be kept as quiet as possible. NASA plans to measure noise levels precisely using special sensors.

The X-59 will then fly over populated areas to analyze how people react to the reduced sonic boom, as reported by “Science Alert”.

The X-59 is supposed to be no louder than a car door slamming.

This data could be crucial: aviation authorities such as the US FAA are expected to use it as a basis to redefine future noise limits for supersonic flights.

In the long term, NASA hopes this will pave the way for a new generation of passenger aircraft that can travel twice as fast as today’s commercial jets. However, this will be achieved without the noise pollution of earlier supersonic aircraft, such as the Concorde: the noise on the ground should be no louder than a car door slamming.

Whether this vision can be realized depends on several factors. In addition to technical reliability and the actual noise profile, social acceptance and future regulations also play a role.

The final phase of supersonic passenger flight ended with the legendary Concorde, which travelled between Europe and the USA at a maximum speed of around Mach 2.04 (approximately 2,522 km/h). Its last scheduled flight took place in 2003 – since then, no civilian aircraft has carried passengers at supersonic speed.

Since 1973, the United States has banned civilian supersonic flights over land. The regulation was introduced due to concerns about the negative impact of the loud sonic boom on the population. With the X-59, NASA now aims to demonstrate that quieter supersonic flight is possible – and thus lay the groundwork for lifting the ban in the future.

The design by Lockheed Martin

The roughly 30-meter-long test aircraft stands out for its spectacularly pointed shape – an aerodynamic design that not only looks futuristic but also serves a technical purpose. The design is based on decades of research into the reduction of sound waves.

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