PALMDALE, Calif. — In a pivotal step toward revolutionizing high-speed air travel, NASA’s experimental X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft has begun taxi tests at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. The sleek, needle-nosed jet—designed to fly faster than sound without producing ear-shattering sonic booms—rolled onto the runway this week, marking the start of ground trials critical for its upcoming maiden flight.
The X-59, developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, aims to transform supersonic travel by reducing the traditional sonic boom to a gentle "sonic thump." If successful, the technology could overturn decades-old bans on civilian supersonic flights over land, shrinking cross-country travel times dramatically. "Taxi tests validate our systems in real-world conditions," said project manager Catherine Bahm. "Hearing the engines hum and watching the aircraft move under its own power is a rush after years of design simulations."
During initial low-speed tests, engineers assessed braking, steering, and propulsion systems while the X-59 navigated airport tarmacs at speeds under 30 mph. Upcoming high-speed trials will push the jet to near-takeoff velocities, ensuring stability and control responsiveness. The team also verified integration between the craft’s novel external vision system—a 4K camera suite replacing forward windows—and the cockpit’s ultra-thin display screen.
See the X-59 in action during its debut ground tests here: NASA's X-59 Begins Taxi Trials. The newly released images capture the aircraft’s striking 99.7-foot-long frame and uniquely shaped nose, engineered to disperse shockwaves that cause sonic booms.
Funded under a $247.5 million NASA initiative, the X-59 targets Mach 1.4 (925 mph) at 55,000 feet. Its "quiet" design relies on elongated airframe geometry to prevent shockwaves from coalescing into violent booms. "Instead of a disruptive bang, communities below might hear a soft thump, like a car door closing," explained acoustics lead Dr. Henry Nakamura. If community surveys during 2026 test flights confirm the noise reduction, NASA will lobby regulators to rewrite supersonic overland rules.
With taxiing complete by late August, the program advances toward first flight this fall. Subsequent missions will collect public noise feedback across U.S. cities, setting the stage for a new era of commercial supersonic travel. As Bahm noted, "Today’s taxi tests are small movements with giant implications. We’re not just testing an aircraft—we’re testing the future."
For ongoing updates, follow NASA’s QueSST mission portal.
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