NASA's X-59, designed to fly at supersonic speeds with reduced sonic booms, completed initial lower-altitude and slower flights before preparing for supersonic flights above the speed of sound, starting around 43,000 feet altitude. The aircraft aimed to reach Mach 1.4 at approximately 55,000 feet during mission-condition flights, key targets for future community overflight demonstrations.
These early flights focus on handling and performance rather than demonstrating quiet supersonic capability, with a traditional supersonic chase plane accompanying the X-59. NASA's goal is to collect public feedback on the quieter sonic "thump," contributing to data supporting future regulatory and operational considerations.
Source & further reading
NASA’s X-59 Prepares for First Supersonic Flight ↗Source published 2026-05-28. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.