Test flight of NASA supersonic aircraft X-59 Quesst ends prematurely with glitch
The second test flight of NASA's X-59 Quesst supersonic aircraft ended with a minor glitch. However, it wasn't too serious, according to the US space agency.
NASA's X-59 Quesst during its second test flight.
(Image: NASA / Jim Ross)
NASA's experimental supersonic aircraft, the X-59 Quesst, completed a test flight on March 20 that ended with a glitch. As NASA announced on Friday, this was the start of a whole series of several dozen test flights to explore quiet supersonic flight.
The X-59 Quesst took off from Edwards Air Force Base on Friday at 10:54 AM (local time). After only a few minutes of flight, test pilot Jim “Clue” Less (yes, really) had to initiate the jet's landing due to a warning message that appeared in the cockpit, NASA reported. The Quesst then landed again around 11:03 AM (local time). NASA provided no information about the cause that triggered the warning indicator. The pilot initiated the standard procedure prescribed for such situations and returned safely to the airbase. However, such an event is possible in such an early test phase of experimental aircraft, according to NASA. Despite the short flight duration, NASA was able to collect further flight data.
The original plan was for the aircraft to remain airborne for about an hour, flying at a cruising speed of 230 mph (about 370 km/h) at an altitude of 12,000 feet. Subsequently, the speed was to increase to 260 mph at an altitude of 20,000 feet.
The second is just one of a whole series of test flights that NASA plans starting in 2026 to gradually increase the X-59's speed until it reaches supersonic speed. This will determine the aircraft's performance limits for safe flight. The plan is to reach a cruising speed of approximately Mach 1.4 (about 925 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
Quieter sonic boom and reduced flight noise
NASA intends to avoid the thunderous sonic boom that occurs when breaking the sound barrier. The X-59 Quesst is only supposed to produce a quieter “plop” sound. For later aircraft with similar technology, the current restrictions on supersonic flights over land could thus be lifted.
During flight tests with the Quesst, overflight studies over land are to be conducted in advance, during which the then-reduced noise pollution over populated areas and its perception by the population will be evaluated.
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The national US aviation authority, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), can derive new flight rules for supersonic aircraft in aviation from this. Later aircraft that produce a lower sonic boom and less flight noise in the supersonic range could enable faster domestic flights over land due to higher cruising speeds.
(olb)
