A new chapter in aviation history is taking shape. NASA and Lockheed Martin have successfully completed the first test flight of their experimental supersonic jet, the X-59, designed to usher in an era of “quiet supersonic travel.”
In a flight conducted over the California desert just after sunrise on Tuesday, the X-59 neared the speed of sound for the first time. According to NASA, this achievement marks not only a significant engineering milestone but also a crucial step toward revolutionizing commercial air travel.
Built at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, the 30-meter-long aircraft is engineered to produce nothing more than a gentle “thump” when breaking the sound barrier — a stark contrast to the disruptive sonic booms that grounded previous supersonic programs. Although the aircraft did not yet reach full supersonic speed, the test verified its airframe integrity and control systems.
NASA officials believe the X-59 could redefine the future of high-speed aviation, potentially cutting flight times between New York and Los Angeles in half — to under two hours.
Supersonic flight first became reality in 1947 when an aircraft exceeded 1,235 km/h. However, the loud sonic booms that accompanied such speeds led to bans on overland supersonic flights in the U.S. Decades later, Concorde briefly revived the dream, offering transatlantic supersonic service in the 1970s. But high costs and a fatal 2000 crash ended its run by 2003.
Now, NASA and Lockheed Martin aim to succeed where Concorde could not — by bringing back supersonic travel, this time without the noise. If the X-59 program proves successful, it could pave the way for a new generation of fast, quiet, and sustainable air travel.