NASA’s X-59 Soars to New Heights: Aims for Silent Supersonic Flight
NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft has achieved its highest and fastest flights yet, reaching altitudes of 43,000 feet and speeds approaching Mach 0.95 during test flights on April 10 and April 14, 2026.
The milestone flights mark significant progress for the aircraft, which recently completed its first wheels-up flight on April 3, revealing its sleek, streamlined design above the Mojave Desert. Piloted by NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less, the X-59 has now completed nine test flights as part of its envelope expansion campaign.
The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, designed to demonstrate that supersonic flight over land is possible without the disruptive sonic boom. The aircraft’s innovative design reduces the loud bang to a gentle “thump,” potentially revolutionizing commercial air travel by cutting cross-country flight times in half.
“Flying with the landing gear up allows the team to examine the performance of the X-59’s streamlined profile, which is a key design element,” NASA officials stated. The aircraft will eventually fly over select U.S. communities to gather public response data, which will be shared with regulators who may revise rules prohibiting supersonic flight over land.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/quesst/2026/04/17/x-59-update-041726/