A new chapter in aviation history just unfolded—quietly. NASA’s long-anticipated X-59 supersonic jet, developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, completed its first successful test flight over the Southern California desert on Tuesday, marking a major step toward the return of supersonic commercial travel.
During the historic flight, the X-59 traveled from Palmdale to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, soaring at subsonic speeds of 230 mph and reaching an altitude of 12,000 feet. According to Lockheed Martin, the jet “performed exactly as planned,” demonstrating stable handling and system performance.
Measuring just under 100 feet in length, the aircraft stands out for its sleek, elongated design—engineered to minimize noise even at extreme speeds. Traditional supersonic jets are infamous for their sonic booms, but the X-59 is designed to produce only a soft “sonic thud,” roughly as loud as a washing machine. This breakthrough could pave the way for quiet supersonic flight over land, a feat that’s been prohibited since the Concorde era due to noise restrictions.
Once fully tested, NASA expects the X-59 to reach cruising speeds of 925 mph (Mach 1.4) and climb as high as 55,000 feet—twice the cruising altitude of a typical airliner.
“It’s part of our DNA—the desire to go farther, faster, and even quieter than anyone has ever gone before,” said Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “This work sustains America’s place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies.”
The Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) program aims to gather community response data to help regulators redefine noise standards, potentially opening the door for commercial supersonic flights over land once again.
NASA’s not alone in chasing this high-speed future—companies like Boom Supersonic and Spike Aerospace are also working on next-generation jets that could halve travel times between major cities.
With more test flights scheduled in the coming months, including the first true supersonic test, NASA will soon find out just how “quiet” the future of air travel can really be.