The sleek, needle-point aircraft built for NASA<\/a> is designed to break the sound barrier while reducing the sonic boom to a “thump,” according to the aerospace contractor. The aircraft aims to overcome one of the major hurdles to supersonic travel, which is noise restrictions over land.\u00a0<\/p>\n The plane took off from Palmdale, Calif.,\u00a0at Skunk Works’ facility at U.S. Air Force Plant 42, accompanied by a NASA chase plane. It landed safely about an hour later at\u00a0NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.<\/p>\n The plane\u2019s unique shape is designed to greatly lower the volume of the sonic boom typically produced when a plane breaks the sound barrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n AMERICA\u2019S \u2018BAT\u2019 MAN UNVEILS TECH BUILT TO OUTSMART A CHINESE FIRST STRIKE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n X-59 took its first test flight, Lockheed announced. (David Swanson\/Reuters)<\/p>\n The long, pointed nose prevents adequate forward-facing visibility, so the pilot flies relying on a monitor in the cockpit.\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA has paid Lockheed over $500 million since 2018 to develop the plane.\u00a0<\/p>\n The plane, which measures just under 100 feet nose to tail, flew at subsonic speeds on its first flight, around 230 mph and reached 12,000 feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n The plane is built to eventually reach a cruising speed of 925 mph, or Mach 1.4, and fly at an altitude of 55,000 feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n “This aircraft is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our joint team, and we are proud to be at the forefront of quiet supersonic technology development,”\u00a0OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n AMERICA\u2019S NEW STEALTH B-21 RAIDER TAKES NEXT STEP WITH SECOND BOMBER\u2019S FIRST FLIGHT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “X-59 is a symbol of American ingenuity. The American spirit knows no bounds. It’s part of our DNA \u2013 the desire to go farther, faster, and even quieter than anyone has ever gone before. This work sustains America’s place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies,” said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator.\u00a0<\/p>\n The experimental quiet supersonic aircraft X-59, a collaboration of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and NASA, parked in a hangar in Palmdale, California. <\/p>\n![\"On](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/x-59-flight.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"X-59](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/x-59-tarmac.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Transportation](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sean-duffy-atc-shutdown-fox-news.jpg\")
<\/p>\n