NASA X‑59 Achieves First Supersonic Flight on June 5, 2026

The X‑59 departed Edwards Air Force Base at 11:08 a.m. PDT and flew for 81 minutes, with test pilot Jim "Clue" Less guiding the craft through its first supersonic climb. (Primary source)

During the flight the aircraft attained roughly Mach 1.1 (713 mph) at an altitude of 43,400 feet, a milestone that validates the design’s quiet‑boom goal. (Primary source)

The flight is part of NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) program, which seeks to prove that future commercial jets can travel faster than sound while producing only a mild thump. (Primary source)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the program has advanced rapidly since the X‑59’s first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, and that the next step is a Mach 1.4 test. (Primary source)

A nearby F‑15 chase aircraft monitored the flight, but its sonic booms masked any sound from the X‑59; the data collected will help shape noise regulations for future supersonic traffic. (Primary source)

Quesst’s broader goal is to provide design tools and operational data that could enable commercial supersonic airliners to fly at high speeds without disturbing people on the ground. (Primary source)