NASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic Research Aircraft is on the verge of its inaugural flight, a pivotal moment for the agency's Quesst mission. The aircraft recently completed a series of crucial low-speed taxi tests at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, on July 10, 2025. These tests successfully validated essential systems, including steering and braking, bringing the X-59 closer to taking to the skies.
Further progress was marked on July 17, 2025, with a self-powered taxi test, the first time the X-59 moved under its own propulsion, with engineers closely monitoring its critical systems. The ground testing continued on July 25, 2025, with ground instruments being tested using an F-15B aircraft, underscoring the comprehensive evaluations. The X-59 is slated for its first flight in late 2025, which will commence a series of tests to confirm its airworthiness and safety.
The core objective of the Quesst mission is to prove that supersonic flight can occur without generating a disruptive sonic boom. The X-59 is designed to fly at altitudes up to 55,000 feet, producing a significantly reduced sound level, a targeted 75 effective perceived noise level (EPNdB) "thump." This measured sound is intended to gauge public acceptance of supersonic transport. The aircraft's unique design, featuring a long, narrow fuselage and an elongated nose, is engineered to minimize shockwave formation. Notably, the cockpit lacks a traditional forward-facing window, with pilots relying on a high-resolution screen fed by external cameras for visibility.
Propulsion for the X-59 is provided by a General Electric F414-GE-100 engine, capable of generating 22,000 pounds of thrust. NASA plans to fly the X-59 over various U.S. communities starting in 2025 to gather data on public perception of the sound produced during supersonic flight. This data will be shared with regulatory bodies to inform potential revisions to current noise regulations for supersonic commercial aircraft operating over land, aiming to overcome the 50-year-old ban on supersonic flights over land enacted due to public concerns over sonic boom noise.