NASA’s X-59 Lands Near Armstrong

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft approaches landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The flight supports NASA’s Quesst mission to demonstrate supersonic flight that produces a quieter sonic “thump” instead of a loud sonic boom.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft approaches landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The flight supports NASA’s Quesst mission to demonstrate supersonic flight that produces a quieter sonic “thump” instead of a loud sonic boom.

Photographer NASA/Carla Thomas
Location AFRC
NASAX-59AviationLow Boom Flight DemonstratorQuesstQuestSubsonicMachSonic BoomQuiet Supersonic TechnologyX-planesX-planeAeronauticsTest PilotLockheed MartinSkunk WorksSpeedAFRCArmstrong Flight Research CenterLangley Research CenterAmes Research CenterGlenn Research CenterSonic ThumpCivil Supersonic Overland Flight TechnologiesAirplanesMojave DesertCaliforniaLBFDEdwards Air Force Base