NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Jet Moves One Step Closer to its Maiden Flight

After passing wind tunnel tests, NASA’s X-59 supersonic jet being developed with Lockheed Martin, got one step closer to its maiden flight. This new generation supersonic aircraft, dubbed “Son of Concorde” after the Concorde commercial jet that first flew in the late 1960s. This QueSST—Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft is designed to reduce sonic booms, by slowing down while flying over land.  The X-59 is being manufactured in Palmdale, California, at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. The company was awarded $247.5 million contract by NASA to create the supersonic aircraft which will have a cruise speed of Mach 1.4, or 925 miles per hour.