NASA's X-59 Supersonic Jet Achieves Key Milestone Ahead of Maiden Flight

NASA's X-59 experimental supersonic jet has successfully completed a significant ground test, bringing it closer to its anticipated first flight. On July 10, 2025, the aircraft performed a low-speed taxi test at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, marking the first time the X-59 moved under its own power on a runway.

During this crucial test, NASA engineers verified the functionality of essential systems, including steering and braking. David Nils Larson, the primary pilot for the X-59, was present in the cockpit for the test. This event is the initial step in a series of ground tests, with plans to progressively increase the jet's speed in the coming weeks. These will culminate in a high-speed taxi test just before the aircraft's inaugural flight.

The primary objective of the X-59 project is to demonstrate "quiet" supersonic flight, aiming to drastically reduce the disruptive sound typically associated with a sonic boom. The data gathered from these test flights will be instrumental in establishing new noise standards, potentially paving the way for future commercial supersonic air travel.

While an exact date for the X-59's maiden flight has not yet been announced, it is expected to occur in 2025, despite some delays since 2021.

Source: L'avion supersonique X-59 de la NASA franchit une étape décisive avant son premier vol