Making history ✈️ On Oct. 28, 2025, our X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft took off for the first time. Though this initial flight was subsonic - that is, slower than the speed of sound - the X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds and reduce the sound of loud sonic booms to quieter sonic thumps.⁣ ⁣ For this first flight, NASA test pilot Nils Larson flew the X-59 up to an altitude of about 12,000 feet and an approximate top speed of 230 mph (370 kph), precisely as planned. These conditions allowed the team to conduct in-flight system and performance checks.⁣ ⁣ Next up for NASAAero and the X-59? We’re prepping for a series of test flights where the plane will operate at higher altitudes and supersonic speeds. This phase will ensure the X-59 meets performance and safety expectations.⁣ ⁣ Image description: The X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off from Palmdale, California. The white and silver plane has a distinctive shape with a long, sharply pointed nose. The ...