NASA Prepares to Fly X-59 'Quiet' Supersonic Jet Over U.S. Cities to Test Public Reaction
NASA is preparing to conduct community overflights with its X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft. The experimental jet, developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed to reduce the loud sonic boom to a much quieter "sonic thump," comparable to a car door closing. These flights, planned over several U.S. cities, will gather data on public perception of the reduced noise level. This research is a critical step in providing regulators, like the FAA, with the information needed to potentially overturn the long-standing ban on supersonic flight over land. Success could pave the way for a new generation of commercial aircraft that dramatically reduce travel times.
Official Source: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2026/09/10/nasa-supersonic-jet-sonic-booms/91675029007/
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