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NASA and Lockheed Martin’s experimental X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft completed its first flight, marking a significant step toward faster commercial air travel. 

The sleek, needle-nosed jet has been designed to fly faster than sound without creating a disruptive sonic boom. For its flight, the jet took off from the U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, before safely landing near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

The X-59’s maiden flight lasted about an hour and was conducted at subsonic speeds, reaching approximately 230 miles per hour (370 kilometers per hour) and climbing to 12,000 feet (3,660 meters). NASA’s lead test pilot, Nils Larson, was at the controls, accompanied in the air by a NASA chase plane. Lockheed Martin confirmed the flight was executed exactly as planned, validating the aircraft’s basic flight systems and air data performance.

“The X-59 successfully completed its first flight this morning,” Lockheed Martin spokesperson Candis Roussel said in a statement, calling it a “significant aviation milestone.” OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, added, “We are thrilled to achieve the first flight of the X-59. This aircraft is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our joint team.”

The X-59 has completed its first flight! 🎉✈️
A new era of supersonic flight begins with Skunk Works® and @NASA. pic.twitter.com/iqtNWC6TxJ

— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) October 28, 2025

Cutting the Boom to a “Gentle Thump”

Unlike previous supersonic jets that generated a thunderous sonic boom, the X-59 is built to reduce the sound to what NASA calls a “gentle sonic thump”, no louder than the slamming of a car door. The aircraft’s unique, elongated nose and precisely engineered airframe are designed to distribute shock waves in a way that dramatically lowers noise levels.

NASA and Lockheed Martin hope this innovation will help overturn long-standing restrictions on supersonic flight over populated areas, which have been in place since the 1970s due to noise complaints. The data gathered from the X-59’s test program will be shared with U.S. and international regulators to establish new sound-based flight standards.

Years in the Making

The X-59 program began in 2018, with NASA awarding Lockheed Martin over $518 million to develop and demonstrate the experimental aircraft. Measuring nearly 100 feet (30 meters) in length, the single-engine jet is expected to eventually cruise at 925 miles per hour (1,490 kilometers per hour), or Mach 1.4, at an altitude of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters), nearly twice as high and fast as conventional airliners.

After completing initial checks at Palmdale, the X-59 will now undergo an extended series of test flights at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. These will gradually expand the aircraft’s flight envelope to supersonic speeds, during which engineers will collect data on noise reduction, system performance, and pilot handling.

Reviving the Dream of Supersonic Travel

The X-59’s success represents the most serious U.S. government-backed attempt to revive commercial supersonic flight since the retirement of the Concorde in 2003. The Anglo-French Concorde carried passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound, but high operating costs, limited capacity, and a 2000 fatal crash hastened its demise.

With the X-59, NASA and Lockheed aim to overcome those past challenges by pairing speed with sustainability and community-friendly design. “This work sustains America’s place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “The American spirit knows no bounds; it’s part of our DNA to go farther, faster, and even quieter than ever before.”

Public and Industry Response

About 200 aerospace workers and their families gathered along a nearby highway to watch the historic takeoff, cheering as the slender jet lifted off against the California sky. The flight has generated widespread excitement across the aerospace industry, seen as a turning point for next-generation aviation research.

Earlier this month, the California Manufacturers & Technology Association named the X-59 as 2025’s “Coolest Thing Made in California”, citing its potential to revolutionize commercial air travel.

Next Steps for the X-59 Program

Skunk Works and NASA will continue to test project QueSST to prove that careful design considerations can reduce the noise of a traditional sonic boom to a quieter sonic thump.

In upcoming phases, the X-59 will attempt its first supersonic flights to validate its quiet-boom technology. Once verified, NASA plans to conduct “community response” tests by flying over select U.S. cities to measure public reactions to the reduced sound signature.

The data gathered will help the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and international regulators determine whether commercial supersonic flight can resume over land for the first time in decades.

NASA and Lockheed Martin describe the X-59 as more than a technological experiment; it is a statement of intent. The program embodies the return of American leadership in aviation and represents a leap toward faster, cleaner, and quieter air travel.

As Lockheed’s Sanchez summarized: “This achievement demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation and to creating cutting-edge solutions for the future of flight.”