NASA’s highly anticipated X-59 aircraft is edging closer to its first-ever flight, bringing attention to the future of supersonic passenger travel decades after Concorde’s retirement.
The experimental jet, often described as a potential “successor to Concorde”, is currently undergoing final safety checks ahead of its debut test flight, according to The Mirror US. If successful, the aircraft could one day dramatically cut travel times between London and New York.
How fast is NASA’s X-59?
The X-59 has been designed to reach speeds of Mach 1.5, or roughly 990 mph (1,590 kph). At those speeds, the aircraft could theoretically complete a nonstop London-to-New York journey in about three hours and 44 minutes.
That is significantly faster than conventional commercial flights, which usually take around seven to eight hours on the same route.
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The aircraft forms part of NASA’s broader effort to revive supersonic air travel in a way that is quieter and more commercially practical than Concorde, the iconic supersonic passenger jet retired in 2003.
What makes the X-59 different from Concorde?
One of the biggest problems with Concorde was the sonic boom produced when the aircraft exceeded the speed of sound. The loud noise limited where the plane could operate and ultimately became one of the major obstacles for widespread supersonic travel.
NASA’s X-59 aims to solve that issue.
According to The Mirror US, the aircraft has been engineered to produce only a soft “thump” instead of the disruptive sonic boom typically associated with supersonic jets.
The aircraft is currently stationed at US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, where teams are carrying out extensive evaluations of its systems and safety features before takeoff.
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What will happen during the first flight?
NASA’s initial test flight is expected to remain relatively controlled and cautious. The aircraft will reportedly perform a lower-altitude loop at approximately 240 mph to verify that onboard systems are functioning correctly and that the aircraft is ready for more advanced testing.
Future flights will gradually push the X-59 to higher altitudes and faster speeds before eventually surpassing the sound barrier.
NASA Armstrong recently shared an update on the project, stating: “As NASA’s one-of-a-kind X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft approaches first flight, its team is mapping every step from taxi and takeoff to cruising and landing, and their decision-making is guided by safety.”
