NASA’s experimental quiet supersonic jet X-59 is in the final testing phase before its historic first flight.
If successful, it would be the first supersonic aircraft to reach the speed of sound without producing a sonic boom.
The aircraft will also lay the foundation for a new era of supersonic travel.
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X-59 quiet supersonic jet
The people at NASA are preparing the X-59 for its first real flight.
But before this can happen, the satellite must pass three important structural tests and critical inspections along the flight route.
The quiet supersonic jet is designed to reduce the sonic boom to a minimum when the speed of sound is reached.
It will also be the first of its kind to fly and collect sound data for future missions.
If all goes well, this could open the door for commercial supersonic aircraft in the future.
Final preparations
Just earlier this year, the X-59 supersonic jet passed an important flight readiness test.
It is now being prepared for final tests before its maiden flight.
“The tests show us not only how strong the aircraft’s structure is, but also what forces it can withstand once it’s in the air,” said Walt Silva, senior research scientist at NASA.
NASA is also eagerly awaiting the first flight, which may 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.
“The anticipation is great, but we are ready to get there and see how the aircraft performs in the air. It will be very exciting,” she added.
However, NASA’s quiet X-59 supersonic jet is not the only player in this field.
Companies like Boom Supersonic have even completed construction of the first supersonic aircraft factory in the United States.
