Accordingly, Lockheed Martin began producing parts of the X-59 in November 2018 at a factory in Palmdale, California, USA. The main part of the airframe was deployed for production in late 2020. By mid-December 2020, the assembly of the X-59 airframe with on-board systems was completed.

Simulated image of the X-59 QuessT hypersonic aircraft. Photo: CNN

The X-59 was developed to demonstrate the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without making noise. The vehicle was promised to produce a sonic boom (a loud bang produced when an object passes the speed of sound) as small as the sound of a car door closing. This is why the X-59 is called a quiet supersonic jet.

According to data released by NASA, the X-59 has a unique design with a pointed nose measuring 11.5m long; the cockpit does not have a raised windshield as is common. Therefore, the pilot will not be able to see straight ahead. To overcome this, the manufacturer has integrated into the X-59 an external vision system (XVS) consisting of a forward-facing camera and a screen mounted in the cockpit.

The aircraft is 29m long, has a wingspan of 9m, and a maximum takeoff weight of 15 tons. Equipped with a single jet engine, manufactured by General Electric Aviation, the X-59 has a maximum speed of up to Mach 1.4, equivalent to 1,715km/h, and a ceiling of over 16,700m.

The X-59 is now fully assembled and ready for ground testing. After successful testing, the X-59 will fly over residential areas to collect data on people’s reactions to the sonic booms created by the aircraft.

The X-59 supersonic jet project is considered a bold step by NASA, marking an important milestone in bringing supersonic commercial travel closer to reality. If the test is successful, the X-59 QuessT could be the world's first commercial supersonic passenger aircraft.

Source: Synthesis

TRANSMISSION ( according to Space.com )

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