The Agency Prepares for Its Quiet Supersonic Aircraft’s First Flight

NASA’s team is working to prepare their X-59 for its first flight. The quiet supersonic aircraft is currently undergoing critical structural tests and inspections.

The X-59 is the flagship of NASA's Quesst mission, which aims to make supersonic flight over land acceptable. It is an experimental plane that can fly up to 1.4 times the speed of sound, or 925 miles per hour, without producing a sonic boom. In fact, it produces merely a “thump” of 75 decibels -- even quieter than the Concorde’s 105 decibels. This will be the first of its kind to take flight, paving the way for commercial supersonic flight.

In 1973, the FAA instituted a ban on supersonic overland flight. This allowed only military aircraft in certain times and locations to fly over the speed of sound. With the X-59, NASA hopes to break this ban, changing the speed limit to a sound limit. The aircraft was specifically designed to limit sound output, incorporating a slender, tapered nose to break up sound waves and a top-mounted engine to steer noise away from the ground.

The X-59 was formally debuted by NASA and Lockheed Martin on January 12, 2024. Now, as the X-59 progresses towards its first flight, extensive testing is necessary to ensure predictability before it leaves the ground.

“The testing not only tells us how structurally sound the aircraft is, but also what kind of forces it can take once it is in the air,” says Walt Silva, who serves as structures lead for the X-59. “You do these tests, you get the data, and things compare well in some areas and in other areas you want to improve them.”

The team performed three vital structural tests on the X-59, beginning with a proof test in early 2022. Then, in 2023, “shakers” were attached to the aircraft to analyze the effects of vibrations. Earlier this year, engineers performed structural coupling tests to visualize control surfaces moving by computer. The X-59’s ejection seat has since been installed and inspected as an added safety measure.

With structural testing out of the way, the X-59 will move into avionics and taxi tests. Inspectors will need to check for electromagnetic interference and ensure mobility.

Natalie Spivey, a NASA aerospace engineer commented: “There’s lots of anticipation, but we’re ready to get there and see how the aircraft responds in the air. It’ll be very exciting.”

FMI: www.nasa.gov