The X-59 aircraft is an innovative design that features an elongated fuselage and a cockpit placed above the fuselage. This unique design allows for a smooth underbelly that minimizes sonic booms, making it possible to revive commercial supersonic flight. NASA is partnering with Lockheed Martin on the X-59 Questt (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) project to achieve this goal.

The supersonic aircraft industry has been working on faster-than-sound aircraft for several years, with hopes of implementing them within the next 5-10 years. Supersonic flight will transform the aviation industry by saving passengers time and providing a more efficient way to travel. However, sonic booms remain a major hurdle in aircraft development, as they cause broken windows and vibrations when observed from below.

The X-59 project aims to minimize noise and vibration through its unique design and extensive testing. Sonic booms were first observed in 1947 when Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier, but it wasn’t until 1973 that supersonic flight over land was banned globally due to public backlash caused by Concorde, the world’s first commercial supersonic aircraft. The X-59 project began in 2018 with a budget of $248 million and is designed to fly at Mach 1.4.

The cockpit configuration of the X-59 is unique, featuring high-resolution cameras instead of front windows. Safety testing and acoustic evaluations will be conducted before test flights in cities to gather feedback on noise levels and ensure that regulations on supersonic flights over land are reconsidered based on this data collected by NASA.