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Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, in partnership with NASA, has successfully completed the first flight of the X-59, a groundbreaking experimental aircraft designed to make supersonic flight quiet – and potentially transform the future of air travel, combat aircraft and space exploration.
The X-59 took off from US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and landed safely at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, completing a flawless first flight that confirmed the aircraft’s handling and performance data.
“We’re thrilled to see the X-59 take to the skies for the first time. This aircraft represents decades of innovation and expertise, and it positions us at the forefront of quiet supersonic technology,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.
Developed under NASA’s Quesst mission, the X-59 is the world’s first aircraft designed specifically to fly faster than sound without producing a disruptive sonic boom. Instead, it generates only a soft “thump”, potentially paving the way for the first legal supersonic flights over land since the Concorde era.
By gathering real-world data on noise perception and community response, the X-59 will help NASA and regulators establish new noise thresholds for future commercial operations, opening the door to aircraft capable of carrying passengers and cargo at twice today’s speeds, sustainably and efficiently.
Sean Duffy, acting NASA Administrator, added, “The X-59 is a symbol of American ingenuity. It reflects our unrelenting drive to go farther, faster and quieter than ever before – keeping the United States at the forefront of global aviation and shaping the future of flight.”
Skunk Works will now lead the aircraft’s initial flight test campaign, progressively expanding its flight envelope before undertaking the first supersonic test flights later this year. These will determine the optimal speed and altitude for achieving the quiet boom effect.
NASA will then operate the X-59 in community overflight trials, measuring noise levels and public response to support future regulatory change.
Lockheed Martin said the achievement underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation and advancing technologies that make flight faster, cleaner and more efficient.
Once fully validated, the X-59 could revolutionise global air travel, restoring supersonic flight to commercial skies this time, without the boom.
