NASA's X-59 QueSST Moves to Flight Line, Ready for Sonic Boom Tests

NASA's experimental "silent" supersonic jet, the X-59 QueSST, has moved into the flight line at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. This means that the aircraft is now ready to begin flight testing, which is scheduled to start later this year.

The X-59 is designed to reduce the sonic boom that occurs when an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound. This is done by shaping the aircraft's nose and fuselage in a way that minimizes the shock waves that are created when the aircraft breaks the sound barrier. The goal is to create a sonic boom that is so quiet that it is barely noticeable to people on the ground.

If the X-59 is successful, it could pave the way for the return of commercial supersonic flight over land. Currently, commercial supersonic aircraft are banned from flying over land due to the noise of their sonic booms. However, if the X-59 can demonstrate that its sonic boom is not disruptive, then regulators may be willing to lift the ban.

The first flight of the X-59 is scheduled to take place later this year. The aircraft will be flown by NASA pilots from Armstrong Flight Research Center. The flight test program will last for several years and will involve flying the X-59 over a variety of different communities. The data collected during these flights will be used to assess the acceptability of the X-59's sonic boom.

The X-59 is a significant step forward in the development of supersonic flight. If it is successful, it could revolutionize air travel by making it possible to travel across the country in a matter of hours.

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