NASA’s X-59 Begins Dual-Flight Operations

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft completed its first dual-flight day on Thursday, April 30, at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. This image shows the X-59 flying over the Mojave Desert during the aircraft’s second flight of the day, and its 12th overall. The X-59 flew test points at altitudes ranging from 12,000 to 43,000 feet and speeds from approximately 528 to 627 mph, or Mach 0.8 to Mach 0.95. The increased tempo of test flights allows the team to collect more data over a shorter period of time.