The initial flight will last around one hour, departing from Palmdale and landing at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. During the test, the aircraft is expected to reach speeds of approximately 240 mph at an altitude of 12,000 feet while engineers assess systems including engine performance, stabilization, instrumentation, autopilot, control systems and air data.
The X-59 flight marks the first phase of testing to verify the aircraft’s airworthiness and safety. Later phases will gradually increase speed and altitude to evaluate performance, advancing the mission towards its ultimate goal.
The aircraft is central to NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to demonstrate quiet supersonic flight by transforming the loud sonic boom into a quieter “thump.” NASA stated that proving the X-59’s airworthiness is the foundation for gathering flight data that could help U.S. and international regulators shape future noise standards for supersonic commercial travel over land.