NASA X-59 aircraft reaches Mach 1.1 in first supersonic test flight
The experimental aircraft flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time on Friday. The 81-minute flight reached Mach 1.1 and 13,228 metres.
indiatoday.intoday.inNASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time on Friday. The flight reached a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1, or 1,147 km/h, and an altitude of 13,228 metres. NASA test pilot Jim "Clue" Less took off and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The flight began at 11:08 am local time and lasted 81 minutes, with the engineering team focusing first on subsonic and then supersonic speeds.
Testing background The milestone follows 16 flights completed since the first flight on 28 October 2025. The recent series of flights occurred over the last 90 days. A NASA F-15 chase aircraft flew nearby to monitor the X-59. The loud sonic booms from the F-15 obscured any sound produced by the X-59.
Next steps In the coming days the aircraft is scheduled to conduct its first mission-conditions flight. That test will target a cruising speed of Mach 1.4 and an altitude of approximately 16,764 metres. The X-59 is designed to produce only a quiet thump instead of a loud sonic boom at supersonic speeds.
Data from later flights over communities will be shared with U.S. and international regulators to help establish new noise standards.
