From Ground Tests to Flight Trials
With afterburner testing complete, the X-59 is preparing for taxi trials and its first flights. Test pilots will gradually expand the aircraft’s speed and altitude, closely monitored by chase aircraft equipped with instruments to measure shockwave behavior.
Later stages of the project will include flying over selected U.S. communities while teams of scientists measure sound levels and gather public feedback. Combining these acoustic measurements with survey responses will help regulators make informed decisions about whether quieter supersonic travel can safely return to populated areas.
A Look Back: Supersonic Travel History
Supersonic flight has long captured public imagination. The Concorde, introduced in the 1970s, could cross the Atlantic in under four hours, but its loud sonic booms and high operating costs limited its use. Over land, strict regulations prohibited supersonic speeds due to noise complaints, and the era of routine supersonic air travel effectively ended with the Concorde’s retirement in 2003.
The X-59 represents a new generation of aircraft, designed to address the noise issue that grounded earlier supersonic jets. If successful, NASA’s work could mark the start of a quiet supersonic era, with aircraft that travel faster than sound without disrupting cities, schools, or wildlife.
