NASA's X-59 Moves Toward First Flight at Speed of Safety

NASA’s supersonic plane preparing for take-off

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is undergoing final safety tests before making its first flight.

NASA's X-59 moves toward first flight at speed of safety

As NASA's one-of-a-kind X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft approaches first flight, its team is mapping every step from taxi and takeoff to cruising and landing—and their decision-making is guided by safety.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator moves toward first flight

NASA says the futuristic-looking X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is closing in on its first flight, with engineers conducting final checks of safety systems as the program moves from ground testing toward the all-important flight-test phase. The milestone will mark the start of a lengthy flight-test regimen for the agency’s Quesst mission, which aims to prove that supersonic aircraft can fly over land without producing the window-rattlin…