NASA’s X-59 “Quiet Supersonic” Jet Completes First Test Flight Over Southern California Desert

NASA’s long-awaited X-59 supersonic-but-quiet jet successfully took to the skies over the Southern California desert on Tuesday, marking a major step toward restoring commercial supersonic flight—this time without the ear-splitting booms that once grounded such ambitions. The sleek experimental jet, developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, completed its first test flight from Plant 42 in Palmdale, roughly 60 miles north of Los Angeles, to Edwards Air Force Base, home to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The X-59 QueSST (Quiet Supersonic Technology) aircraft represents years of engineering effort to overcome one of aviation’s biggest hurdles—the sonic boom. Its distinctive long, slender fuselage and uniquely contoured nose are designed to shape shock waves that occur when breaking the sound barrier, transforming the usual thunderous boom into a gentle “sonic thump”, reportedly no louder than the slamming of a car door.

During the first test flight, which lasted about an hour, the X-59 climbed to an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) and reached a speed of 230 mph (370 kph)—well below its designed supersonic capability. This low-altitude loop was part of the aircraft’s airworthiness verification phase, ensuring that all flight control systems, sensors, and avionics were performing as expected. NASA’s chief test pilot, Nils Larson, was at the controls.

Built under a $518 million contract between NASA and Lockheed Martin signed in 2018, the X-59 is a one-of-a-kind experimental jet that measures 99.7 feet (30.4 meters) in length and 29.5 feet (9 meters) in wingspan. The aircraft is powered by a General Electric F414-GE-100 turbofan engine, the same family used in the F/A-18 Super Hornet, generating up to 22,000 pounds of thrust. The X-59 is expected to reach a cruising speed of Mach 1.4 (925 mph or 1,490 kph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters)—twice as high and nearly twice as fast as conventional commercial airliners.

One of the most innovative aspects of the X-59 is its forward cockpit placement and lack of a front-facing window. Instead, the pilot relies on the eXternal Vision System (XVS)—a combination of high-definition cameras and display screens—to provide real-time visibility, improving aerodynamics while maintaining safety.

NASA and Lockheed Martin intend to use data gathered from the X-59 program to help redefine regulations for supersonic flight over land, which have been restricted globally for over five decades due to the disruptive noise of sonic booms. By demonstrating that supersonic travel can be quiet, the X-59 could pave the way for a new generation of commercial jets capable of flying from New York to London in half the current time—without disturbing people on the ground.

About 200 aerospace workers and their families gathered along a nearby highway to witness the takeoff, which Lockheed Martin hailed as a “significant aviation milestone.”

NASA plans to conduct a series of progressively faster and higher-altitude flights over the coming months, culminating in supersonic tests exceeding Mach 1. Once validated, the X-59 will embark on community overflight missions across several U.S. cities, where sound data will be recorded and public reaction to the “sonic thump” will be evaluated.

This research will directly inform future FAA and international aviation policies, potentially allowing commercial supersonic routes over land for the first time since the Concorde was retired in 2003.

The California Manufacturers & Technology Association recently named the X-59 the “Coolest Thing Made in California” for 2025, a testament to its groundbreaking design and technological innovation.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, also serving as acting NASA administrator, praised the milestone: “This work sustains America’s leadership in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies.”

If successful, the X-59 will not only revive supersonic passenger travel but redefine it—quieter, faster, and more efficient, ushering in a future where crossing continents in a few hours may again become a reality.