During the tests, Lockheed Martin is assessing key performance factors, including the functionality of the inlet and nozzle, the structural and system interfaces between the engine and aircraft, and the algorithms used to control the engine. According to the company, these checks are essential to verify the X-59’s readiness for taxi tests and eventual first flight.
Pat LeBeau, X-59 programme manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, described the experience as momentous, stating, “It was an emotional high to see and hear another innovative, boundary-pushing Skunk Works X-plane come to life. The team has done an incredible job, and we remain focused on the path forward to a safe and successful first flight.”
The engine runs serve as the final system checks before the X-59’s first flight, ensuring that the aircraft can function independently on its own power. These tests confirm the operation of the vehicle management system and engine computer, alongside assessments of the fuel system, vibration, and temperature interactions within the aircraft.
Following successful completion of the engine tests, the X-59 will undergo further evaluations, including electromagnetic interference testing, simulations of potential in-flight failures, and validation of its emergency power system. After these assessments, low-speed and high-speed taxi tests will be conducted to prepare for the aircraft’s first official flight.
The X-59, developed as a unique test aircraft, is designed to achieve quiet supersonic flight, aiming to redefine future commercial air travel. Lockheed Martin and NASA have underscored a disciplined, methodical approach to ensure both safety and mission success for this one-of-a-kind, nationally significant aircraft.
