A new supersonic jet designed to minimize noise made its first flight this week, according to NASA. The test took place over the southern California desert shortly after sunrise, representing an early step toward potentially faster commercial air travel.
NASA and Lockheed Martin, a U.S. aerospace and defense company, collaborated on the development of the jet, which is capable of speeds greater than sound. Supersonic flight has been possible since the 1940s, but such aircraft have faced restrictions for commercial use over land due to the loud “sonic boom” that disturbs people on the ground.
The Concorde, a previous supersonic passenger jet operated by British Airways and Air France from the 1970s until 2003, ended service after a fatal crash in 2000 led to decreased demand for its costly flights.
NASA and Lockheed Martin hope that reducing noise levels could allow future jets to significantly cut travel times between cities like New York City and Los Angeles. The X-59 jet aims to fly at supersonic speeds while producing only what Lockheed Martin calls a “gentle thump.” The recent test flight was conducted below supersonic speed to assess structural integrity but was viewed as an important milestone for future developments in air travel.
The plane measures about 100 feet (30 meters) long. It launched from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, roughly 60 miles north of Los Angeles, flew over the desert landscape, and landed near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center about 40 miles away.
Supersonic travel began nearly eight decades ago when an aircraft first exceeded 767 mph (1,235 kph) in 1947. However, such flights were soon banned over land in the United States following public complaints about noise disruptions in large cities.
