When a supersonic plane exceeds the speed of sound, it produces a loud thunder-like noise called a “sonic boom.” The intensity of this boom can be strong enough to break windows in buildings, which is why supersonic flights over residential areas have traditionally been restricted.
Due to the loud noise, when supersonic planes like the Concorde began commercial flights in the 1970s, most areas banned supersonic travel over land to prevent disturbances in urban areas. This is why the Concorde mainly flew over oceans, such as the Atlantic and Indian Ocean routes. But now, that scenario is about to change.
According to Reuters, a sleekly designed plane developed by aerospace company Lockheed Martin for NASA took off from the Skunk Works facility runway in Palmdale about an hour after sunrise and headed toward Edwards Air Force Base. The flight successfully landed near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center one hour later.
Why did NASA have to award the Moon mission contract to a company opposing Elon Musk?
The unique design of the X-59 aims to reduce the loud noise typically generated by supersonic flight so that when the sound reaches the ground, only a soft “sonic thump” is heard—comparable to the sound of a car door closing.
The goal of this low-noise technology is to overcome the biggest barrier to commercial supersonic flight: noise complaints. Supersonic flights over populated areas have been restricted because of these complaints. Lockheed Martin says this technology could enable faster flights in the future.
NASA has paid Lockheed more than $518 million since 2018 to build and test the X-59, which is just under 100 feet long. During its first flight, the aircraft flew at subsonic speed, reaching 230 mph at an altitude of 12,000 feet.
About 200 aerospace employees and their families observed the flight from a safe distance.
The X-59, an experimental aircraft, can reach speeds up to 925 mph and fly at altitudes of 55,000 feet—twice as high and twice as fast as conventional commercial jets.
Data collected from this flight will help develop new noise standards for supersonic travel, making supersonic flights over land more feasible in the future.
The most famous supersonic airliner, the Concorde, began transatlantic flights with British Airways and Air France in 1976 but was retired in 2003 due to high operating costs and limited seating.
NASA stated that the purpose of the X-59’s first flight was to conduct a low-altitude test for system integration, confirming the aircraft’s flight capabilities and safety.
The California Manufacturers and Technology Association recently named the X-59 as “the coolest thing made in California” in 2025.
U.S. Transportation Secretary and Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said, “This work maintains America’s leadership in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies.”
