NASA's X-59 Jet Achieves Supersonic Flight, Paving Way for Quiet Supersonic Technology
NASA's X-59 jet, part of the agency's Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) program, has successfully achieved supersonic flight for the first time. The flight took place on June 5, 2026, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with NASA test pilot Jim 'Clue' Less at the controls. The X-59 reached a maximum altitude of 43,400 feet and a top speed of 713 mph, which is about Mach 1.1. This milestone is significant as the X-59 is designed to produce a quieter sonic boom, described as a 'mild thump,' which could lead to the return of supersonic commercial flights over land. The aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, has been actively testing and accumulating flight hours since its first flight in October 2025.