First Supersonic Flight For NASA's X-59 Demonstrator On June 5th, the latest flight of the NASA X-59 demonstrator exceeded transonic and entered into supersonic territory. The experimental aircraft reached supersonic speeds for the first time on the specific flight. The flight departed Edwards Airforce Base in California and assessed handling and flying characteristics at upper subsonic and supersonic speeds. That flight endured for 81 minutes and reach a maximum altitude of 43,400-feet and a top speed of MACH 1.1.
The program has been gradually expanding the flight envelope with each test flight. The aircraft's first flight was in October, 2025 and since then has conducted 16 test flights in the last 90 days alone. The aim for the next up coming flights will be to push the aircraft demonstrator to MACH 1.4 and an altitude of 55,000-feet.
“X-59 is getting ready for its quiet supersonic debut. Since the aircraft’s first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, the team has made tremendous progress, flying 16 times in the last 90 days and getting into a steady test rhythm,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “I’m grateful to the NASA team and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for their help getting us to this point, and I hope this is the first of many collaborations as we rebuild NASA’s X-plane portfolio.”
This is a very important program for the future of supersonic flight overland. These tests ultimately are part of the Quesst (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) program that is ascertaining the effect of supersonic flight to the public. The latest supersonic mitigation technologies are being employed to be able to reduce the creation of the audible sonic boom at ground level to a faint thud. For more information: Lockheed Martin Corporation 6801 Rockledge Dr Bethesda, MD www.lockheedmartin.com ***
