NASA\u2019s experimental supersonic jet recently completed its 25th flight, racking up some serious miles in the air before its noise levels are put to the test.<\/p>\n
The X-59 took off from NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California on August 21 for the latest in a series of successful test runs. The aircraft flew for a total of 72 minutes, reaching a speed of Mach 1.2 and an altitude of approximately 49,000 feet (14 kilometers), according to NASA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Like all of its previous test flights, the aircraft was accompanied by a NASA F-15 chase plane for monitoring. The chase plane\u2019s sonic booms drowned out any noise produced by the X-59, but that won\u2019t be the case much longer. NASA is finally preparing to evaluate the experimental aircraft\u2019s much quieter noises later this year, putting its innovative technology to the real test.<\/p>\n Supersonic speeds <\/p>\n The X-59 is designed to break the sound barrier without producing the loud, explosive sound known as a sonic boom. Following years of development, the aircraft broke the sound barrier for the first time<\/a> on June 5, reaching a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1, or 713 miles per hour (1,147 kilometers per hour).<\/p>\n Since then, NASA has continued to test the performance of its jet before advancing it to the next phase.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough our ongoing flight tests with the X-59, we\u2019ve gained invaluable insights into both the aircraft\u2019s performance and the unique challenges of the aircraft design,\u201d Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA\u2019s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, said in a statement. \u201cEach test point has validated our models and predictions, and it has strengthened our confidence in the aircraft\u2019s performance. Every flight brings us closer to transitioning to the next phase where we will demonstrate the X-59\u2019s quiet supersonic flight capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n During its acoustic validation phase, researchers will thoroughly measure the aircraft\u2019s supersonic acoustic signature to confirm X-59 is indeed performing as intended and producing a sonic thump rather than a boom.<\/p>\n