With the “X-59” jet, NASA presented the core of its “Quesst” mission, which aims to enable silent supersonic technology: about 30 meters long, about ten meters wide and supposedly “no bang”.
Is this the new, quieter Concorde? The North American space agency NASA presented its new supersonic aircraft “X-59” to the public for the first time. The jet, which is around 30 meters long and has a pointed front with a wingspan of around ten meters, was unveiled on Friday at the site of the defense company Lockheed Martin, which also worked on the jet, in the US state of California. . The aircraft is the heart of the “Quesst” (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) mission. It should be able to fly without a supersonic boom.
First flight tests are planned in selected regions of the US throughout the year, during which more data will be collected.
The “X-59” is a “100-foot-long step on a path that began decades ago toward sustainable commercial supersonic flight,” said NASA manager Bob Pearce. Deputy CEO Pam Melroy described the aircraft as “another jewel in NASA’s crown.”
What's special about the “X-59”: the machine must be able to fly without supersonic noise. When flying supersonic, the airspeed is greater than the speed of sound in the area around the aircraft. If a plane breaks the sound barrier in the air, there will be a very loud bang. It is not heard just once, but is created constantly. While the aircraft flies at supersonic speeds, certain sound waves are created which travel along its route at the same speed as the aircraft and can be heard. In part because this concerns and upsets many people, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned all civilian supersonic flights over the US until further notice.
The “X-59” is supposed to fly at an altitude of about 10 miles at about 1,500 miles per hour — and instead of a loud bang, it just makes a noise as loud as a car door slamming. Lockheed Martin received around 250 million dollars (around 230 million euros) from NASA to develop the aircraft.
The last time there were regular supersonic flights was around 20 years ago, with the legendary Concorde between Paris, London and New York. Following an accident in Paris with over 100 deaths in 2000, operations were halted in 2003 due to heavy losses. In addition to NASA and Lockheed Martin, other companies are currently working on the return of supersonic jets. (APA/dpa)