At last, Lockheed Martin and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) are ready to unveil the new X-59 Quesst, a supersonic jet intended to break the sound barrier without producing a loud sonic boom.
According to international media report, the Quesst jet has been under construction at Lockheed Martin’s “Skunk Works” facility in Palmdale, California since 2019.
Nasa’s experimental X-59 Quesst aircraft is designed to reduce the sound of sonic booms, reducing the volume to a “thump” similar to a car door slamming, potentially helping to reshape regulations prohibiting supersonic flight over populated areas.
The US space agency will release its painted X-59 aircraft for the first time in its hangar on January 12, while hosting a free livestream and encouraging the public to host watch parties.
The agency is also offering printable invites and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) toolkits for educators.
The X-59 was first unveiled in August 2023, before its final red, white, and blue livery was applied in the paint barn, showcasing its unique geometry and striking design.
The aircraft features a sharp, elongated beak-like nose section that measures 38 feet (11.5 meters) in length. The nose section will help shape the shock waves the aircraft produces during flight, Nasa said in a 2021 statement.
The 99.7-foot-long, 29.5-foot-wide aircraft is designed to reach a speed of Mach 1.4, or 925 mph (1489 kph) while flying at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
The X-59 is powered by a single engine built by General Electric Aviation.
The aircraft will conduct a research campaign over residential areas to gather data on people’s reactions to quieter sonic booms, which will be used by Nasa to secure approval for commercial supersonic flights from regulatory agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration.
