Washington: NASA's ambitious project to develop a supersonic aircraft that eliminates disruptive sonic booms is edging closer to reality. The experimental X-59, also known as the "Son of Concorde," is expected to undergo its initial test flights soon, marking a significant milestone in NASA's Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) initiative.
The X-59 aircraft, designed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works team, has been moved to the flight line for ground checks before commencing safety flight tests. Once the initial development phase is completed, NASA will take over the aircraft to demonstrate its ability to fly over land at supersonic speeds without producing disruptive sonic booms. Instead, the X-59 is designed to create a quieter "sonic thump" similar to the sound of a car door being slammed from a distance of 20 feet.
The unique design of the X-59 aims to mitigate shockwaves that occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound. By preventing these shockwaves from converging, NASA believes the X-59 will produce a gentler sonic thump instead of the loud sonic booms that can be heard for miles on either side of an aircraft's flight path.
The X-59, with a maximum speed of Mach 1.4 (925 mph or 1,488 kph), features a sleek and compact design. Its length measures just under 100 feet (30.5m), with a wingspan of 29.5 feet (9m) and a height of 14 feet (4.25 meters). Although smaller and slower than its predecessor, the Concorde, the X-59 is projected to fly at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
NASA plans to conduct polling among residents in select US cities to gather feedback on the noise produced by the X-59 during test flights. By 2027, NASA aims to provide regulators with data from the X-59 experiment to assist in revisiting the ban on non-military supersonic flights over land implemented in 1973. The successful implementation of quiet supersonic flight regulations could pave the way for the development of a new generation of environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient supersonic aircraft.
While the X-59 is primarily focused on addressing the sonic boom challenge, NASA is simultaneously exploring other aspects of supersonic flight, such as landing and takeoff noise, emissions, and fuel burn, through separate research initiatives.
Lockheed Martin has yet to announce the schedule for the X-59's first test flights. However, the progress made so far indicates that the aircraft could be silently cruising through the skies as early as 2025.