NASA has completed the first year of flight testing for the experimental X-59 supersonic aircraft, part of the Quesst mission. Since its maiden flight on October 28, 2025, the vehicle has successfully performed 41 flights, gradually expanding its operational envelope in terms of speed, altitude, and flight conditions.
During the testing period, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 17.1 kilometers and attained a top speed of 1.53 Mach, which corresponds to roughly 1650 kilometers per hour. Initial flights focused on validating onboard systems at lower altitudes and slower speeds before moving to more demanding flight profiles.
The program is now transitioning into the acoustic testing phase. Engineers will evaluate the aircraft's flight characteristics and analyze the sonic signatures generated during supersonic flight. NASA plans to record and study sound pulses on the ground to assess the effectiveness of the design in mitigating sonic booms.
The X-59 is designed to produce a quiet thump instead of a traditional loud sonic boom when flying at an altitude of 16.8 kilometers and a speed of 1.4 Mach, or about 1500 kilometers per hour. The target sound level is comparable to a car door closing from a distance of six meters.
