Major Ground Engine Tests Concluded On X-59 Ground engine tests have been completed by the X-59 demonstrator as recently announced by Lockheed Martin. They are running this project in cooperation with NASA Aeronautics and now that ground engine tests have been successfully completed it paves the way for the next steps in the program. In general the next major facets of testing will be the range of taxi tests which will encompass slow taxi ramping up to high-speed taxi runs as the precursor towards the actual first flight.
The last major ground testing involved verifying inlet and nozzle performance, aircraft and engine structural and system interfaces and engine control algorithms. Previously, the X-59 had been powered externally – electrically, hydraulically and pneumatically. Engine runs are the last, critical system check-out prior to first flight that verifies proper functionality of the X-59 as an integrated system operating on its own power. The tests ensure the engine can be controlled through the vehicle management system and engine computer. They also verify management of the fuel system, vibration and temperature interactions and more.
Now that the ground engine runs are complete, the X-59 will be evaluated for electromagnetic interference effects, simulated in-flight failure modes and validation of the emergency power system. These are the the next important steps and once those are completed, the aircraft will enter low-speed and high-speed taxi test regime in preparation for first flight.
With companies like BOOM Supersonic making significant strides in the civil supersonic race with the XB-1 demonstrator -which has already gone supersonic several times-, Lockheed Martin in cooperation with NASA Aeronautics are charting a real path to civil supersonic travel in the near future. The X-59 is a one-of-a-kind test aircraft designed to achieve quiet supersonic flight and transform future commercial air travel. For more information: Lockheed Martin Corporation 6801 Rockledge Dr Bethesda, MD www.lockheedmartin.com ***
