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Watch: NASA’s pencil-thin X-59 supersonic jet spotted flying across US skies

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

NASA's 99.7-foot-long test jet traveled from California to the Kennedy Space Center while being escorted by an F-15, an F/A-18, and a Gulfstream C-20. Across 41 test flights completed within twelve months, the aircraft achieved speeds up to Mach 1.53 and altitudes of 56,000 feet. The unique design features an elongated nose, a top-mounted engine to redirect sound, and an external vision camera system instead of a standard windshield. These quiet-boom innovations will soon be tested over American communities to capture public noise response data for aviation regulators.

Key points

  • Acoustic validation flights over designated communities will collect noise impact data fo…: Acoustic validation flights over designated communities will collect noise impact data for regulatory reviews.
  • The aircraft incorporates a specialized nose design and a top-mounted engine to redirect…: The aircraft incorporates a specialized nose design and a top-mounted engine to redirect disruptive supersonic sound waves.
  • Commercial overland supersonic transit remains dependent on proving that aircraft can mit…: Commercial overland supersonic transit remains dependent on proving that aircraft can mitigate traditional sonic booms.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NASA’s pencil-thin X-59 experimental supersonic jet was captured flying over the United States on Wednesday, exactly one year after its maiden flight, as the aircraft began a cross-country journey from California to Florida.

Videos of the distinctive aircraft have since surfaced on social media, drawing attention to the milestone. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded to one such video on X, writing: “Great catch... X-59 making her way to @NASAKennedy”.

The aircraft was en route to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida when it was spotted by people across the US. Videos of the unusual-looking jet were subsequently widely shared on X, drawing attention to its distinctive pencil-thin design. Its journey comes as the space agency marks a year of flight testing for the experimental aircraft, which is the centrepiece of its Quesst mission.

The aircraft traveled escorted by an F-15, an F/A-18 and a Gulfstream C-20.

NASA Aeronautics also marked the anniversary in a post on X, saying, “One year. New heights. Faster speeds. Since its first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, NASA's X-59 has continued pushing the boundaries of…

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