The Concorde coming back? NASA’s X-59 flies sonic-boom-free

For the first time in more than two decades, the sound barrier has been broken again – this time, almost silently.

NASA’s sleek, experimental jet, The X-59The first flight of the supersonic aircraft has been completed, reinvigorating hopes that the dream of supersonic travel will be reborn without the deafening noise that once halted it.

The aircraft developed with Lockheed MartinSkunk Works, a division of, flew from Palmdale, California for a symbolic but short test. It’s the first real glimpse of what NASA has been working on since 2016 – a plane that could make high-speed travel possible again, only without the thunderclap that made the Concorde so controversial.

Concorde: a quieter alternative to Concorde’s thunder

When the Concorde streaked across the skies in the 1980s and 90s, it was the definition of futuristic travel – flying from London to New York in under four hours. The progress, however, came with a price: a sonic boom of 110 decibels that was loud enough to shake buildings and rattle nerves. This noise led to restrictions for supersonic flights on land, and sealed the fate of Concorde after its last flight in 2003.

Now, more than twenty years later, NASA hopes the X-59 QueSST – short for Quiet Supersonic Technology – can succeed where the Concorde failed. The goal is to bring the boom down to 75 decibels – roughly the same as a car closing its door.

The aircraft was tested at around 385km/h, cruising slowly to test the controls and systems. Next, the aircraft will be tested at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center near Edwards Air Force Base. It will attempt to achieve supersonic speed.

The jet that will silence the skies

At first glance, it looks like a scene from a sci-fi movie. The aircraft’s long, pointed, nose, which occupies almost a third, is designed to soften the sonic blast that occurs when an airplane breaks the sound barrier.

The X-59 is also one of only a few planes that has never had a pilot who could see directly ahead. Instead of a cockpit window, the X-59 has a 4K Exterior Vision System that uses high-resolution cameras to project a real-time view of what is ahead.

The engine is a General Electric F414 GE 100, which is the same as the one used in modern fighter planes. But this one sits atop the aircraft, rather than beneath. This design keeps the underside of the plane smooth and reduces sound. Other parts are borrowed from different military aircraft — a practical way to cut costs and speed up development.

A new era of quiet speed

NASA’s next challenge isn’t just technical – it’s psychological. The agency is planning to fly an X-59 aircraft over selected U.S. cities and ask the residents to describe the sound they hear. The sound could be quiet enough for regulators to lift the ban that has been on supersonic flight over land since more than 50 years.

If that happens, it could open the door to a new generation of high-speed commercial aircraft, capable of flying passengers around the world in record time – without disturbing those on the ground.

Sean Duffy (acting administrator at NASA) said that the X-59 was a symbol for innovation and dedication. It shows what happens when we push boundaries — not just faster, but smarter and quieter too.”

More than 20 years ago, the world bid farewell to the Concorde. NASA’s X-59 is now in the air and it might not be too long before we say goodbye to Concorde.