NASA and Lockheed Martin have begun initial taxi tests of the X-59 Quesst, a quiet supersonic research aircraft designed to gather data on public response to shaped low sonic booms.
The aircraft moved under its own engine power for the first time in July at Lockheed Martin’s Palmdale, California facility. Taxi tests will gradually build up to medium speed taxi and high-speed taxi tests, with aims to reach speeds of 50 kts, 75 kts, and 100 kts ground speed.
Due to the aircraft’s unconventional configuration, NASA plans to conduct taxi tests with extreme caution. The X-59 has a short landing gear wheelbase and small delta wing, which will rotate at a shallow angle around 150 kts and lift off at high speeds of around 170 kts.
Test pilots aim to evaluate flight control system loop closures, air data systems, and flutter excitation systems during taxi tests. The aircraft is equipped with a multi-camera based external vision system to compensate for its long nose, which obscures the pilot’s forward view.
The X-59 is designed to gather data on public response to shaped low sonic booms, with plans to provide the data to the FAA and ICAO to develop a noise certification standard. Despite delays in the start of flight tests, NASA says the low boom mission remains highly relevant after President Trump’s executive order lifting the ban on overland supersonic flight.
Source: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aircraft-propulsion/nasa-x-59-supersonic-research-aircraft-begins-taxi-tests