World's Quietest Jet: NASA's Silent Supersonic X-59 Completes First Test Flight

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 20:24 IST

The X-59 has been jointly developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division, the same facility that made some of the world's most secretive and sophisticated aircrafts

NASA's X-59 QueSST aims to eliminate the sonic boom of supersonic jets. (X/@flightradar24)

In what could redefine the future of air travel, NASA’s experimental jet X-59 has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a historic stride toward the dream of silent supersonic aviation. The sleek, needle-nosed aircraft took off from Palmdale Regional Airport at 10:13 am on Tuesday, October 28, slicing through the skies of southern California without producing the thunderous sonic boom that has long accompanied supersonic speed.

Developed under NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) mission, the X-59 is designed to travel faster than sound while drastically reducing the shock waves that generate the explosive boom typically heard on the ground.

Since 1973, supersonic flight over populated areas has been banned in the United States due to the disruptive noise and vibrations caused by these booms, a regulation that X-59 now aims to overturn.

Unlike past test flights that often make headlines through official statements, NASA kept this flight low-key. No formal announcement or press release was issued, reportedly due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Yet, aviation enthusiasts and local photographers were quick to capture and share footage of the moment online, showing the futuristic jet soaring above the Mojave Desert and circling over Edwards Air Force Base for nearly an hour.

Following its flight, the aircraft was moved to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre for a detailed testing phase. Over the coming months, engineers will conduct multiple flights, recording the jet’s noise levels and atmospheric vibrations using an array of ground-based microphones. Specially equipped aircraft will also accompany the X-59 in the air to collect supplementary acoustic and aerodynamic data.

The X-59 has been jointly developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, the same advanced research facility renowned for creating some of the world’s most secretive and sophisticated aircraft. Every contour of the jet’s elongated fuselage has been designed with precision to spread shock waves more evenly, thereby eliminating the intense “boom" that follows traditional supersonic jets.

NASA’s ultimate ambition is not merely to create a quieter jet, but to demonstrate that supersonic travel can be achieved without disturbing life on the ground. If proven successful, this breakthrough could pave the way for lifting the 50-year ban on supersonic commercial flights in the US.

Beyond transforming passenger travel, making transcontinental journeys possible in half the time, the technology holds promise for rapid disaster relief, emergency medical transport, and defense applications. For now, the X-59’s silent ascent marks more than just a test, it signals the dawn of a potentially revolutionary chapter in aviation history.

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