NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft is set for its first supersonic flight in early June, with engineers targeting more than 630mph at about 43,000 feet.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the test will mark a key step for its Quesst mission, which aims to reduce the loud sonic boom to a quieter “thump.”
The X-59, developed with Lockheed Martin, has already completed months of test flights since its first flight in October 2025. NASA said recent flights reached 43,000 feet and speeds up to 627mph, or about Mach 0.95.
NASA said the coming supersonic test will show how the aircraft handles under conditions needed for the Quesst mission. The agency said the early flights will not yet demonstrate the aircraft’s quiet supersonic profile.
After the first supersonic phase, NASA plans a “mission conditions” flight at Mach 1.4, or 925mph, at about 55,000 feet. The agency said those targets align with the performance required for future community overflights.
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The X-59’s long, tapered design is built to reshape shock waves that usually create a sonic boom. NASA says it will later fly the aircraft over selected U.S. communities and share public response data with U.S. and international regulators.
The aircraft is part of NASA’s effort to support possible commercial supersonic travel over land. Current rules in several markets restrict routine overland supersonic flight because of noise concerns.
