NASA Prepares X-59 Noise Tests After 25th Flight at Mach 1.2
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Sep 7
NASA Prepares X-59 Noise Tests After 25th Flight at Mach 1.2
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Sep 7
Summary
NASA is moving the X-59 into acoustic validation later this year after the experimental jet completed its 25th flight on Aug. 21, a key step toward proving quiet supersonic travel.
The 72-minute flight from Edwards, California, reached Mach 1.2 and about 49,000 feet, extending performance checks that began after the aircraft first broke the sound barrier on June 5.
That next phase will measure whether the X-59 produces the intended sonic thump rather than a conventional sonic boom, using ground- and air-based instruments instead of relying on chase-plane monitoring.
NASA said the jet has shown no unexpected instability or excessive vibration so far, with only minor control-software tweaks needed to stop nuisance alerts from being flagged as cautions.
If the design works as intended, the X-59's long nose and top-mounted engine could help clear a path for future commercial supersonic flights over land.