X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator, LBFD Probe Calibration Test

Horizontal Stabilator Install

Manufacturing Area From Above

The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft is taking shape at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. The team positioned the X-59 QueSST's nose at the front of the aircraft. As one of the more recognizable features of the X-59, the nose makes up almost a third of the aircraft length and will be essential in shaping shock waves during supersonic flight, resulting in quiet sonic thumps instead of loud sonic booms. The nose was attached and then removed from the front of the aircraft in preparation for its shipment to Fort Worth, Texas where it will undergo additional testing. The X-59 will fly at supersonic speeds above communities as part of the Low-Boom Flight Demonstration mission, during which NASA will gather community feedback to the sound of quiet supersonic flight. These findings will be shared with regulators to inform decisions on current restrictions of supersonic flight over land. Lockheed Martin Photography By Garry Tice 1011 Lockheed Way, Palmdale, Ca. 93599 Event: Manufacturing Area From Above Date: 8/18/2021 Additional Info:

Project Manager Cathy Bahm Poses in Front of Unveiled X-59

NASA’s project manager for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, Cathy Bahm, poses in front of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a January 12, 2024 event at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter.

NASA Engineer Poses in Front of Unveiled X-59

NASA’s chief engineer for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, Jay Brandon, poses in front of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a January 12, 2024 event at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter.

NASA Representatives in Front of Unveiled X-59

(from left to right), Quesst Mission Integration Manager Peter Coen, Chief Engineer Jay Brandon, Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Project Manager Cathy Bahm, and Structures Lead Dr. Walt Silva pose in front of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a January 12, 2024 event at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter.

NASA and Lockheed Martin Officials in Front of Unveiled X-59

(from left to right) NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, California Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor Dee Dee Myers, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President of Aeronautics Greg Ulmer, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Project Manager Cathy Bahm, Lockheed Martin X-59 Project Manager David Richardson, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Vice President and General Manager John Clark, and NASA Associate Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Bob Pearce pose in front of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a January 12, 2024 event at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter.

NASA pilots, engineers, and communications specialists brief the day's operations prior to a supersonic research flight for QSF18, taking off from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The flights are meant to validate NASA's techniques and technology for gather community feedback data for X-59's Low-Boom Flight Demonstration mission.

NASA QSF18 Flight Crew Briefs Test Flight

Astronauts Pilot X-59 Simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Zena Cardman, Loral O'Hara, Frank Rubio, Jonny Kim, Raja Chari practice flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to fly at supersonic speeds over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

Cathy Bahm, Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project manager at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, presents a look at how the X-59 aircraft team addresses safety. Bahm manages the effort to design, build, and test the X-59 aircraft, which will use quiet supersonic technologies to fly over communities as part of NASA’s Quesst mission.

NASA Values Safety and Reducing Risk

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidate Kayla Barron practices flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to fly at supersonic speeds over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

Astronaut Pilots X-59 Simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA’s 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Jonny Kim and Raja Chari practice flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to supersonically over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

Astronauts Pilot X-59 Simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA Values Safety and Reducing Risk

Artist concept of the X-59 three forths view

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Artist illustration of the X-59 in flight over land.

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Artist illustration of the X-59 in flight above the clouds with land below, flying left.

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Artist concept of the X-59 side view (right side) with landing gears down.

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Artist concept of the X-59 view of the back of the vehicle with the landing gears down.

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Artist concept of the X-59 side view (left side) with landing gears down.

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Manufacture Area From Above

This overhead shot of the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology or QueSST aircraft shows the assembly progress of the vehicle during Spring 2021. Pictured here you can see the nose (far left) which will later be mounted to the middle section in the photo known as the fuselage and the last section is the wing and tail in the far right of the photo. Lockheed Martin Photography By Garry Tice 1011 Lockheed Way, Palmdale, Ca. 93599 Event: Manufacture Area From Above Date: 3/30/2021

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This overview shot of the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology or QueSST aircraft shows the vehicle before a major merger of three major aircraft sections – the fuselage, the wing, and the tail assembly – together, making it looks more like an airplane. Lockheed Martin Photography By Garry Tice 1011 Lockheed Way, Palmdale, Ca. 93599 Event: Manufacture Area From Above Date: 3/30/2021

Manufacture Area From Above

This image shows a close up of the cockpit view of the eXternal Vision System that will be placed in the X-59. Instead of a front facing window, the pilot will use these monitors for forward facing visibility. Lockheed Martin Photography By Garry Tice 1011 Lockheed Way, Palmdale, Ca. 93599 Event: X-59 SIL Round 2 Date: 6/10/2021

X-59 SIL Round 2

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