X-59 Fires Up its Engine for First Time on its Way to Takeoff
November 6, 2024
Edwards Air Force Base, California – NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft recently fired up its engine for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its development. The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing a loud sonic boom, opening up the possibility of commercial supersonic travel over land.
The engine test, which took place at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, lasted for approximately 10 minutes. During the test, the X-59’s GE Aviation F414 engine was operated at various power settings, including full afterburner. The engine performed as expected, providing the necessary thrust to power the aircraft through the sound barrier.
“This is a major milestone for the X-59 program,” said Jaiwon Shin, NASA’s associate administrator for aeronautics research. “The successful engine test brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of developing a supersonic aircraft that is quiet enough to fly over land without causing a sonic boom.”
The X-59 is a single-seat, tailless aircraft with a sleek, arrowhead design. It is approximately 94 feet long and has a wingspan of 29.5 feet. The aircraft is powered by a single GE Aviation F414 engine, which is capable of producing up to 22,000 pounds of thrust.
The X-59’s unique shape is designed to reduce the aircraft’s sonic boom. The aircraft’s long, slender fuselage and swept wings help to spread out the shock waves that are produced when the aircraft travels at supersonic speeds. This reduces the intensity of the sonic boom, making it less noticeable to people on the ground.
NASA plans to conduct a series of flight tests with the X-59 over the next few years. The first flight test is expected to take place in 2025. During the flight tests, NASA will collect data on the X-59’s performance and its sonic boom signature. This data will be used to refine the aircraft’s design and to develop new technologies for reducing sonic booms.
If the X-59 program is successful, it could pave the way for the development of commercial supersonic aircraft that are quiet enough to fly over land. This would open up new possibilities for air travel, reducing travel times and making it easier to connect people and businesses around the world.
Additional Information
- The X-59 program is part of NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project. CAS is a partnership between NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop new technologies for future aircraft.
- The X-59 is being developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.
- The X-59 is expected to fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.4, or approximately 1,000 miles per hour.
- The X-59’s sonic boom is expected to be approximately 75 decibels, which is about the same loudness as a car door slamming.
- NASA plans to conduct a series of flight tests with the X-59 over the next few years. The first flight test is expected to take place in 2025.
X-59 Fires Up its Engine for First Time on its Way to Takeoff
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