EDWARDS, CALIFORNIA — NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flew over Rogers Dry Lake near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The aircraft is preparing for its first flight faster than the speed of sound.

“What comes next is the first time this one-of-a-kind aircraft will fly supersonic,” said Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator. “We are starting toward the mission conditions test point that X-59 was designed for.”

The X-59 is expected to fly supersonic—over 630 mph—at approximately 43,000 feet altitude during test flights in early June 2026. After its first supersonic flight, the aircraft will conduct a “mission conditions” flight at Mach 1.4 (925 mph) and approximately 55,000 feet altitude. These parameters represent NASA’s performance targets for the X-59 to eventually fly over U.S. communities and collect public feedback on its quiet sonic “thump.”

Early supersonic flights will not demonstrate the X-59’s quiet supersonic capabilities. A traditional supersonic chase plane will accompany the aircraft, with its louder sonic booms masking the X-59’s quieter signature. The chase aircraft will carry a specialized shock-sensing probe to take initial measurements of the X-59’s shock waves during supersonic flights in summer 2026.

The X-59 made its first flight in October 2025 and returned to flight testing in March 2026 after scheduled maintenance. Between March and late May 2026, the aircraft completed 14 additional flights. During this period, it reached altitudes up to 43,000 feet and speeds of Mach 0.95 (approximately 627 mph). The aircraft also completed its first gear swing, retracting its landing gear to reveal its aerodynamic design, and began conducting multiple flights per day.

Data from early flights helped engineers assess critical systems including fuel, hydraulics, environmental controls, and the eXternal Vision System, which uses cameras to provide the pilot with a forward view on a monitor in place of a traditional windshield. Strain gauges installed throughout the airframe collected data on structural forces during flight.

“Flying at supersonic speeds is a major milestone for the X-59 team,” Bahm said. “Every step of envelope expansion brings us closer to demonstrating the quiet supersonic capability that is at the heart of the Quesst mission.” She added, “Completing the first mission-conditions flight is especially meaningful – it’s the moment where we begin validating the aircraft in the environment it was designed for.”

During the upcoming test block, the X-59 will reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 (1,218 mph) and altitude of 60,000 feet. All flights through this phase are part of Phase 1 of the Quesst mission, focused on proving performance and airworthiness. “These flights not only deepen our confidence in the X-59’s performance – they mark our progression toward the future phases of the mission that will ultimately help shape the future of supersonic travel.”