Palmdale, California: Demonstrating a commitment to revolutionize commercial supersonic travel, NASA, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, introduced the X-59, a groundbreaking quiet supersonic aircraft. Unveiled on Friday in Palmdale, California, the experimental aircraft is set to redefine air travel with its predicted top speed of 1.4 times the speed of sound, equivalent to 1,488 kilometers per hour. The X-59 is scheduled to embark on its maiden flight later this year, marking the beginning of its era in quiet supersonic aviation.
Engineered for unprecedented efficiency, the X-59 boasts a thin, tapered nose, constituting approximately one-third of its total length. This design innovation aims to deflect shock waves, which conventionally envelop supersonic planes and trigger disruptive sonic booms. With dimensions of 99.7 feet in length and 29.5 feet in width, the aircraft represents a leap forward in supersonic technology.
In a strategic move to enhance supersonic performance, engineers eliminated forward-facing windows typically found in traditional aircraft. The cockpit is positioned nearly halfway down the length of the X-59, optimizing its aerodynamics. The engine is strategically mounted on top, and a smooth underside has been crafted to prevent shockwaves from coalescing behind the aircraft, curbing the production of sonic booms.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy expressed her enthusiasm, stating in a press release, “This is a major accomplishment made possible only through the hard work and ingenuity from NASA and the entire X-59 team. In just a few short years, we’ve gone from an ambitious concept to reality. NASA’s X-59 will help change the way we travel, bringing us closer together in much less time.” As the X-59 prepares for its inaugural flight, it represents a significant stride toward a future of supersonic travel with minimized sonic impact.
Together with @LockheedMartin, we've unveiled our new X-59 supersonic plane. The X-59 will fly later this year on the #Quesst mission to test quieter sonic booms.
What we learn could reopen the skies to commercial supersonic air travel: https://t.co/RjK3CGoFWy pic.twitter.com/028hjyUNDU
— NASA (@NASA) January 12, 2024
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