NASA’s supersonic X-59 is on the brink of making history with its revolutionary first flight
- It will be the first of its kind to fly at the speed of sound
- However, it will not produce a sonic boom
- Watch the video below to take a closer look
Published on Aug 21, 2024 at 3:28 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Aug 22, 2024 at 7:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet is in the final stages of testing before its historic first flight.
If successful, it will be the first supersonic aircraft to reach the speed of sound without creating a sonic boom.
The aircraft will also set the stage for a new era of supersonic travel.
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X-59 quiet supersonic jet
![NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-first-flight](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-first-flight-1024x599.webp)
![NASAs-supersonic-X-59-on-brink-of-making-history-with-revolutionary-first-flight](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/NASAs-supersonic-X-59-on-brink-of-making-history-with-revolutionary-first-flight-1024x683.webp)
The people at NASA are preparing the X-59 for its first real flight.
But before it can do that it will need to pass a trio of important structural tests and critical inspections on the flight path.
The quiet supersonic jet is designed to minimize the sound of the sonic boom as the plane approaches the speed of sound.
It will also be the first of its kind to fly and gather sound data for future missions.
If everything goes smoothly it can open the door for commercial supersonic planes in the future.
Final preparations
![X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-1024x683.webp)
![NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-1024x683.webp)
Just earlier this year, the X-59 supersonic jet passed a critical Flight Readiness Review test.
Now, it is being prepared for the final testing before its maiden flight.
“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, Senior Research Scientist at NASA.
The people at NASA are also looking forward to the first flight, one that might go down in aviation history.
“First flights are always very intense,” said Natalie Spivey, an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
![NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-set-to-make-its-first-flight](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/NASA-X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-set-to-make-its-first-flight-1024x640.webp)
![X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-to-make-its-first-flight](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/X-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-to-make-its-first-flight-1024x683.webp)
“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,” she added.
However, NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic jet is not the only player in this field.
Companies like Boom Supersonic have even completed the construction of the first US supersonic airline factory.
# Tags - Airplanes, NASA, Supersonic
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Nalin Rawat
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.