Fast Facts
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Historic First Flight: NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft successfully completed its inaugural flight on Oct. 28, 2025, lasting 67 minutes after taking off from Palmdale, California.
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Planned Performance: Piloted by Nils Larson, the X-59 reached an altitude of 12,000 feet and a speed of 230 mph, following a precise test plan with landing gear down throughout the flight.
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Upcoming Test Phase: Following the first flight, NASA is set to conduct a series of test flights to evaluate the aircraft’s performance at higher altitudes and supersonic speeds.
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Quesst Mission Goals: The objective of NASA’s Quesst mission is to pioneer quiet supersonic flight, leveraging the X-59’s innovative design and technology for future supersonic transport.
NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft completed its historic first flight on Oct. 28, 2025. The flight took off at 11:14 a.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Impressively, the aircraft flew for 67 minutes before landing safely at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
During the flight, test pilot Nils Larson reached an altitude of about 12,000 feet and a speed of approximately 230 mph. The design included keeping the landing gear down throughout this inaugural flight. This approach is a standard safety practice for new experimental aircraft.
With the successful first flight behind them, the X-59 team now shifts focus to upcoming test flights. These tests will explore higher altitudes and supersonic speeds, critical for ensuring that the aircraft meets both performance and safety standards.
The Quesst mission aims to revolutionize air travel by introducing quieter supersonic flight. Through innovative design and advanced technology, the X-59 holds the potential to mitigate the disruptive sonic booms associated with traditional supersonic aircraft. As these advancements unfold, they could transform how we think about air travel, improving flight efficiency and reducing noise pollution for communities below.
This endeavor not only exemplifies scientific achievement but also highlights a significant leap toward enhanced quality of life. As the world anticipates these advancements, the future of aviation looks promising.
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