Taxi Trials Have Commenced For NASA's X-59 The last time JF explored the latest news that was happening with the NASA X-59 Quesst project it was related to the prototype concluding its Ground Engine testing. This was a major hurdle in pushing the program towards the first flight. However, before the first flight can be achieved, they have to conduct first, slow taxi trials and then work their way up to high speed taxi runs.
The first taxi test was completed by the aircraft on July 10 at the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The various teams would have been monitoring the aircraft's performance regarding handling qualities during low speed taxi configuration. The X-59's steering, braking, and stability were tested in these initial phases of validation.
The overall mission for this aircraft is to investigate the quiet operation at supersonic flight without people experiencing the very loud and potentially damaging sonic boom that has been traditionally associated with supersonic transition. The NASA Quesst mission aims to significantly reduce that boom to what they have been describing as a 'thump'. Data collected during the flight campaign will be used to help establish noise thresholds for future supersonic operations over land.
NASA is expected to share much of its findings from the wide gamut of testing with this aircraft. This will both involve U.S. and international regulators and it is the intention for it to support rulemaking based on real-world supersonic noise performance. The X-59 is a supersonic craft that has been designed to operate at Mach 1.4 and at an approximate 55,000-feet in altitude. The parameters are for the aircraft to producing no more than 75 perceived decibels on the ground...hence the quiet thump they have been referring to. For more information Lockheed Martin Corporation 6801 Rockledge Dr Bethesda, MD www.lockheedmartin.com ***
