NASA’s Low-Boom X-59 Breaks The Sound Barrier

NASA’s Low-Boom X-59 Breaks The Sound Barrier | Aviation Week

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Graham Warwick
June 08, 2026

X-59’s flight display reads Mach 1.077 (highlighted) as the low-boom testbed goes supersonic for the first time.

Credit: NASA

NASA’s Lockheed Martin-built X-59 Quesst low-boom demonstrator conducted its first supersonic flight on June 5, reaching Mach 1.1 on an 81-min. mission from Edwards AFB, California. The flight focused on flying qualities at supersonic speed. Flown by NASA test pilot Jim Less, the single-seat, single…

Graham Warwick

Graham leads Aviation Week’s coverage of technology, focusing on engineering and technology across the aerospace industry, with a special focus on identifying technologies of strategic importance to aviation, aerospace and defense.

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