{"id":32389,"date":"2025-10-30T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T22:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=32389"},"modified":"2025-10-29T23:40:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T21:40:28","slug":"nasa-and-lockheed-martins-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-makes-first-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/nasa-and-lockheed-martins-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-makes-first-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA and Lockheed Martin\u2019s X-59 quiet supersonic jet makes first flight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NASA and Lockheed Martin\u2019s experimental X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft completed its first flight, marking a significant step toward faster commercial air travel.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, before safely landing near NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The X-59\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s basic flight systems and air data performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe X-59 successfully completed its first flight this morning,\u201d Lockheed Martin spokesperson Candis Roussel said in a statement, calling it a \u201csignificant aviation milestone.\u201d OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, added, \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"800\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The X-59 has completed its first flight! \ud83c\udf89\u2708\ufe0f <br>A new era of supersonic flight begins with Skunk Works\u00ae and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NASA<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iqtNWC6TxJ\">pic.twitter.com\/iqtNWC6TxJ<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LockheedMartin\/status\/1983282565118345346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><strong>Cutting the Boom to a \u201cGentle Thump\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike previous supersonic jets that generated a thunderous sonic boom, the X-59 is built to reduce the sound to what NASA calls a \u201cgentle sonic thump\u201d, no louder than the slamming of a car door. The aircraft\u2019s unique, elongated nose and precisely engineered airframe are designed to distribute shock waves in a way that dramatically lowers noise levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s test program will be shared with U.S. and international regulators to establish new sound-based flight standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Years in the Making<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After completing initial checks at Palmdale, the X-59 will now undergo an extended series of test flights at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center. These will gradually expand the aircraft\u2019s flight envelope to supersonic speeds, during which engineers will collect data on noise reduction, system performance, and pilot handling.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/X-59.gif?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/X-59.gif?resize=1000%2C750&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology experimental test aircraft\" class=\"wp-image-32402\" style=\"width:840px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>NASA&#8217;s Quesst mission, which features X-59 aircraft, demonstrate technology to fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms. (Video Credit: NASA)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Reviving the Dream of Supersonic Travel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The X-59\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the X-59, NASA and Lockheed aim to overcome those past challenges by pairing speed with sustainability and community-friendly design. \u201cThis work sustains America\u2019s place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. \u201cThe American spirit knows no bounds; it\u2019s part of our DNA to go farther, faster, and even quieter than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Public and Industry Response<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/X59.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/X59.jpg?resize=900%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"NASA and Lockheed Martin formally rolled out the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft\" class=\"wp-image-20642\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/X59.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/X59.jpg?resize=300%2C167&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/X59.jpg?resize=768%2C427&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>NASA and Lockheed Martin formally rolled out the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft on January 12, 2024, during a ceremony hosted by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works at its Palmdale, California facility. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin\/Garry Tice)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Earlier this month, the California Manufacturers &amp; Technology Association named the X-59 as 2025\u2019s \u201cCoolest Thing Made in California\u201d, citing its potential to revolutionize commercial air travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Next Steps for the X-59 Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skunk Works and NASA will continue to test project <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/quesst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#ac0707\" class=\"has-inline-color\">QueSST<\/mark><\/a> to prove that careful design considerations can reduce the noise of a traditional sonic boom to a quieter sonic thump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In upcoming phases, the X-59 will attempt its first supersonic flights to validate its quiet-boom technology. Once verified, NASA plans to conduct \u201ccommunity response\u201d tests by flying over select U.S. cities to measure public reactions to the reduced sound signature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Lockheed\u2019s Sanchez summarized: \u201cThis achievement demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation and to creating cutting-edge solutions for the future of flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NASA-X-59.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NASA-X-59.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"NASA\u2019s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft\" class=\"wp-image-20640\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NASA-X-59.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NASA-X-59.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>NASA and Lockheed Martin formally rolled out the X-59, designed to quiet the sonic boom and revolutionize supersonic flight. (Image Credit: NASA)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA and Lockheed Martin\u2019s experimental X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft completed its first flight, marking a significant step toward faster commercial air travel.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,125],"tags":[256,324,244,235,7,790],"class_list":["post-32389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-united-states","tag-aircraft","tag-lockheed-martin","tag-nasa","tag-technology","tag-u-s","tag-x-59"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/X-59-first-supersonic-flight.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8qp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32389"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32410,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32389\/revisions\/32410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}