NASA’S experimental X-59 aircraft completed its first supersonic flight on Friday, marking a major milestone in the development of the agency’s quiet supersonic technology.
The flight sets the stage for demonstrating the aircraft’s quiet supersonic capabilities later this year, NASA said in a release published on its official website.
NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less took off and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, reaching a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1 (over 1,300 kph) and an altitude of 43,400 feet (about 13.2 kilometres). The flight began at 11:08 am. Pacific Time and lasted 81 minutes, according to the release.
“X-59 is getting ready for its quiet supersonic debut. Since the aircraft’s first flight on 28 October 2025, the team has made tremendous progress, flying 16 times in the last 90 days and getting into a steady test rhythm. In the coming days, we expect to take the next step and push to Mach 1.4,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. — Xinhua