Another Milestone for X-59

May 21, 2025

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft successfully completed a critical series of tests in which the airplane was put through its paces for cruising high above the California desert – all without ever leaving the ground. The goal of ground-based simulation testing was to make sure the hardware and software that will allow the X-59 to fly safely are properly working together and able to handle any unexpected problems.

Learn more about this series of exercies, dubbed “aluminum bird” testing by engineers.

Image credit: Lockheed Martin/Garry Tice