Imagine flying from New York to Los Angeles in less than three hours – and doing it all silently. That’s the promise behind NASA and Lockheed Martin’s experimental supersonic jet, the X-59, which completed its first test flight on Tuesday (Oct. 28). The plane could revolutionize air travel by combining speed with silence, eliminating the thunderous sonic booms that plagued previous supersonic dreams.
The sleek jet took off just after sunrise over Palmdale, California, soaring across the desert sky before landing safely near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. Although this time it flew below the sound barrier, testing confirmed the aircraft’s structural performance and operation. NASA described the flight as a “significant milestone” in the effort to make supersonic passenger travel once again viable.
Dealing with the sonic boom problem
Aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier have existed since the late 1940s, but their deafening “sonic boom” has long restricted their use in populated areas. Supersonic flights on land were banned in the United States and other countries due to the strong shock waves generated by aircraft traveling at speeds of more than 1,235 kilometers per hour.
Lockheed Martin’s X-59 aims to change that. The jet is engineered to fly at supersonic speeds while producing only a “gentle rumble” rather than the explosive noise typically associated with breaking the sound barrier. NASA hopes the plane’s quiet design will convince regulators to lift restrictions and open the skies to faster commercial routes.
From Concorde to X-59
The last commercial supersonic aircraft, Concorde, operated by British Airways and Air France, provided transatlantic flights between the 1970s and 2000s. Its retirement in 2003 after a tragic accident three years earlier and declining passenger interest brought an end to the era of supersonic passenger travel.
The new collaboration between NASA and Lockheed Martin aims to revive that dream, this time focusing on sustainability, safety, and community acceptance. If successful, the X-59 could nearly halve travel times between major cities like New York and Los Angeles, reshaping the future of global connectivity.
A quiet step towards the future
Measuring nearly 100 feet in length, the X-59 was developed at Lockheed Martin’s famous Skunk Works facility, known for leading cutting-edge aerospace projects. Although this week’s flight did not reach supersonic speeds, NASA officials called it an important initial step in proving the aircraft’s readiness for more advanced testing.
Future tests will focus on flying the jet at supersonic speeds over select communities to assess the public’s response to its low noise signature. If the results are favorable, it could pave the way for a new generation of commercial jets that combine speed with silence.
