NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Jet Completes 25th Flight, Moves Toward Acoustic Validation

On August 21, the X-59 took off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California for its 25th test sortie. The 72-minute flight reached Mach 1.2 at an altitude of roughly 49,000 feet (14 km). A NASA F-15 chase plane accompanied the mission; its own sonic booms masked any noise the X-59 might have produced. The flight marked the final step before the program’s acoustic-validation phase later this year.

GizmodoNASA’s X-59 completes 25 flights ahead of acoustic supersonic testing

The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to demonstrate that a supersonic aircraft can fly over land without generating a disruptive sonic boom. After years of design and wind-tunnel testing, the aircraft first broke the sound barrier on June 5, achieving Mach 1.1 (713 mph). Subsequent flights have incrementally increased speed and altitude, working toward a target cruise of Mach 1.4 at 55,000 feet.

Gizmodo

• 25 total test flights completed.

NASA’s X-59 completes 25 flights ahead of acoustic supersonic testing

• Latest sortie: 72 minutes, Mach 1.2, 49,000 ft.

NASA’s X-59 completes 25 flights ahead of acoustic supersonic testing

• Initial supersonic breakthrough: Mach 1.1 on June 5.

Gizmodo

• Engine: single GE F414 mounted on top of the fuselage to reduce ground-level noise.

Gizmodo

• No unexpected instability, excessive vibration, or major system failures reported.

Gizmodo

Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, said the flight program has repeatedly validated the aircraft’s performance models and increased confidence that the X-59 will meet its quiet-supersonic goals. Larry Cliatt, acoustic validation technical lead for NASA’s Quesst mission, described the upcoming acoustic-validation phase as the “biggest benchmark” for the program, emphasizing that the real research now shifts to measuring the aircraft’s “sonic thumps” and confirming that the design tools can be applied to future commercial supersonic jets.

GizmodoNASA’s X-59 completes 25 flights ahead of acoustic supersonic testing

• “Through our ongoing flight tests with the X-59, we’ve gained invaluable insights into both the aircraft’s performance and the unique challenges of the aircraft design,” — Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project

Gizmodo

• “This is the phase we’ve been working toward,” — Larry Cliatt

Gizmodo

• “Acoustic validation will put the tools and methods used to design the X-59 to the test — tools that could ultimately become part of the DNA of every future commercial supersonic aircraft,” — Larry Cliatt

Gizmodo

• “This is the phase we’ve been working toward. Building and flying a brand-new aircraft is an extraordinary accomplishment, but the next phase is where the real research begins.” — Larry Cliatt

NASA’s X-59 completes 25 flights ahead of acoustic supersonic testing