The National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA) and Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works division have shed some exciting light on the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft. On Friday January 12, 2024 Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (NYSE: LMT) officially unveiled the aircraft in a roll out ceremony in Palmdale California. The X-59 will help the aviation industry and regulators to better understand what the future holds for supersonic air travel.
Shaping The Future Of Supersonic Aviation
At the roll out ceremony many NASA officials were in attendance including NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator, Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator, Lockheed Martin leadership and Dee Dee Myers, California Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor. The aircraft is undergoing such fanfare due to its very specialized mission. The aircraft will be used by NASA to gather data on sonic boom noise over populated areas. Currently the FAA has banned aircraft from reaching supersonic speeds over mainland United States since 1973. The data from upcoming X-59 flights will be used to aid regulators in making new governance of supersonic aircraft such as the upcoming Boom Overture supersonic airliner.
A Quiet Supersonic Design
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has spearheaded the design and build of the X-59 quiet supersonic technology. In a Mission Infographic the X-59 is designed specifically to reduce shockwaves to reduce sonic booms. According to NASA, the super thin tapered nose will break up the shock waves that would ordinarily result in a supersonic aircraft causing a sonic boom. The test bed aircraft is just under 100 feet long, has a wingspan of 29.5 feet and cruises at Mach 1.4 or 925 mph. It will cruise at an approximate altitude of 55,000 feet, higher than most commercial airliners. Once ground testing is complete the X-59 will fly over selected populated areas across the continental United States. This will allow U.S and foreign regulators to examine new data to potentially allow supersonic flight over land. This aircraft will hopefully shape the rebirth of supersonic passenger jet travel.
