Imagine having breakfast in New York and snacking later in London.
Testing continues on a much-anticipated supersonic jet designed to quietly surpass the sound barrier.
The X-59, nicknamed “The Son of Concorde,” has recently powered up for taxi tests on its own for the first time as of July 10. This marks a significant step toward its inaugural flight, following earlier trials where the aircraft moved at low speeds along a runway in California, according to information from NASA.
Currently, operations at the US Air Force’s factory in Palmdale are focused on the final steps leading to the aircraft’s first official flight planned for this year. The latest updates indicate that trials involve a series of 100-foot-long jets, as confirmed by the Space Agency.
“In the upcoming weeks, we’ll see the aircraft gradually increasing its speed, soon reaching high-speed taxi tests, leading up to the point just before takeoff,” an official commented.
This cutting-edge plane, jointly revealed by NASA and Lockheed Martin last year, is central to the QUESST mission. It aims to create a more subtle sonic boom, thereby transforming air travel and possibly cutting down flight times dramatically.
Some estimates suggest it might be able to travel from New York to London in about three and a half hours, according to agency projections.
The innovative design of this aircraft is key to producing a less intense sound when flying at speeds around 925 mph, as stated by officials.
Supersonic flights have been off-limits in the U.S. and other nations for decades due to the disruptive noise from planes surpassing the sound barrier.
Yet, the X-59’s sleek, tapered nose is intended to disrupt the shock waves that typically cause the loud roars associated with traditional supersonic jets, as noted by proud representatives from NASA.
This new aircraft aims to replace the British Airways Concorde, which achieved speeds of around 1,350 mph and completed its fastest Atlantic crossing on February 7, 1996.
Introduced back in 1976, the Concorde faced costly maintenance issues and a tragic crash in 2000, ultimately retiring from commercial service in 2003.
