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NASA Quesst

NASA's Quesst mission, which features the one-of-a-kind X-59 aircraft, will demonstrate technology to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, without generating loud sonic booms. NASA will then survey how people respond when the X-59 flies overhead, sharing these reactions to the quieter sonic "thumps" with national and international regulators to inform the establishment of new data-driven acceptable noise thresholds related to supersonic commercial flight over land. Quesst is supported through NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

NASA X-59 Pilot Receives Top Test Pilot Award

Nils Larson holding his Iven C. Kincheloe Award while standing in front of the X-59 aircraft.
NASA test pilot Nils Larson recently received the Iven C. Kincheloe Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, for making the first flight of NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft and for helping to make its first flight in 2025. 
NASA/Ryan Kline

NASA test pilot Nils Larson recently received a top honor from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots for making the first flight of NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft and helping to make its first flight in 2025. 

Larson received the society’s Iven C. Kincheloe Award for leading the X‑59 through its first flight and safely expanding the flight envelope to Mach 1.4 at 55,000 feet. He is the first to receive the award for a NASA test flight project in 44 years. Larson was also instrumental in helping shape the research and simulations that went into the X-59’s development. 

Throughout NASA’s current work to fly the X-59 in a variety of altitudes, speeds, and conditions, Larson has alternated piloting duties with Jim “Clue” Less. Their work has helped advance NASA’s goals for enabling commercial quiet supersonic flight over land. 

Larson received the award Sept. 26. Learn more about the Quesst mission on NASA’s site.   

More X-59 to Explore

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Read more on the Quesst mission page.

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