NASA's ‘Son of Concorde' jet that will HALVE flight time from US to London step closer to take-off with runway test
The X-59 jet will even
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Concept illustration of the X-59 shooting through the sky
Credit: SWNS
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Nasa and Lockheed Martin are speeding ahead with tests of the supersonic X-59 jet
Credit: Lockheed Martin / Gary Tice
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The 30m-long and 9m-wide plane has a sharp, stiletto-style nose
Credit: Alamy
When up and running,
Nasa revealed it struck
The X-59 moved around purely under its own
power
for the first time at US Air Force Plant 42 on July 10.
Taxiing is the final stage of ground tests before Nasa can take it up into the skies - and the maiden voyage is chalked for later this year.
read more in tech
Over the coming weeks, pilots will gradually increase the speed on the runway - leading to high-speed manoeuvres when it will travel fast enough to take off.
Engineers tested key systems like steering and breaking during the low-speed run through.
Nasa said: "These checks help ensure the aircraft's stability and control across a range of conditions, giving pilots and engineers confidence that all systems are functioning as expected."
The X-59 is the crown jewel in
Most read in Science
Instead, the X-59 will produce a much quieter sonic "thump".
Currently, commercial passenger planes are banned from going at such speeds – if they were able to – over land in the UK and US on account of the noise levels.
Near-supersonic jet that can fly London-New York at speeds 'not seen since Concorde' unveiled with luxury living spaces
The 30m-long and 9m-wide X-59 has a sharp, stiletto-style nose that engineers believe will reduce the noise
The space agency believes their new jet could fly from London to New York in three-and-a-half hours.
Lori Ozoroski, a project manager at Nasa, previously said: "We had a commercial supersonic aircraft, the Concorde.
"But it was limited during its flights that it could not fly, say into, you know, somewhere in the middle of the U.S.
"You were not allowed to fly supersonic over land.
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The jet's F414-GE-100 engine is mounted on top of the aircraft
Credit: Lockheed Martin / Gary Tice
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The X-59 has a sharp nose designed to reduce the sonic boom
Credit: Reuters
"So most of the flights were back and forth just over the ocean. And so again, that ban has been in place for 50 years, over 50 years in the US.
"A lot of international countries as well have similar bans.
"And so the whole goal of this research that we're doing right now is to lift that ban and set a speed limit for commercial supersonic aircraft rather than a speed limit."
Lori added: "The sound level is more like – we've done studies – it's more like a car door closing, you know, across the street at your neighbour's house rather than the very loud typical sonic boom."
Supersonic and Hypersonic Jets
There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years.
Talon-A
Built by Stratolaunch
Reported speeds of Mach 5
The first test flight conducted in 2024
Built by Nasa and Lockheed Martin
Predicted max speeds of Mach 1.4
The first test flight in 2025 - but subject to delays
Built by Venus Aerospace and Velontra
Predicted max speeds of Mach 6
First test flight in 2025
Built by Hermeus
Predicted max speeds of Mach 2.5
First test flight in 2026
Built by Hermeus
Predicted max speeds of Mach 5
First test flight by 2030
Built by China's hypersonic plane programme
Predicted max speeds of Mach 6
First test flight in 2025
Built by Hypersonix Launch Systems
Predicted max speeds of Mach 7
First test flight in 2025
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