Key facts
- NASA's X-59 jet is designed to flatten supersonic booms into tolerable background noises.
- The X-59's design incorporates parts from T-38, F-16, and F-18 jets.
- The X-59 relies on a camera system for the pilot due to the cockpit's rearward position.
- Peter Coen, NASA program manager, stated that future X-planes are likely to be uncrewed unless piloting technology is being researched or crewing is more cost-effective.
- Guy Gratton, professor at Cranfield University, argues that drones cannot replace piloted aircraft for carrying people and that human pilots provide crucial feedback.
- BAE Systems is developing a technology demonstrator for the Global Combat Air Programme, due to fly in 2028.
NASA's experimental X-59 jet, designed to mitigate the disruptive sonic booms of supersonic flight, is currently undergoing flight tests over the US. The aircraft's unique, elongated nose is engineered to transform the shockwave created when breaking the sound barrier into a quieter thump, potentially paving the way for overland supersonic commercial travel, a feat previously hindered by noise restrictions that affected aircraft like the Concorde.
The X-59 is the latest in a long lineage of experimental NASA aircraft dating back to the Bell X-1, which first broke the sound barrier in 1947. Peter Coen, a 43-year NASA veteran managing the X-plane program, explained that the philosophy behind these aircraft is to focus on small, specific goals to prove with flight data, thereby controlling costs. For the X-59, that singular goal is to suppress sonic booms affordably.
The aircraft's design is a composite of parts from existing military jets, including its cockpit and ejector seat from a T-38 trainer, landing gear from an F-16 fighter, and an engine from an F-18. Due to the cockpit's position far back in the fuselage, the pilot relies on an advanced camera system for forward vision. NASA is conducting community surveys in conjunction with the flights to gauge public perception of the modified sonic booms.
While NASA has explored uncrewed X-plane designs like the X-48, the X-59's development required a larger airframe to simulate an airliner and accommodate a cockpit. Coen noted that future X-planes will likely be uncrewed unless the research specifically involves piloting or if crewing proves more cost-effective.
However, the necessity of piloted test aircraft in the age of advanced drones is a subject of debate. Guy Gratton, a professor at Cranfield University, argues that while drones have proven effective in various applications, piloted aircraft remain essential for carrying people and offer invaluable insights that automated systems might miss. He suggests that testing drones can sometimes require more ground support personnel than piloted flights.
The UK is also advancing its own technology testbeds, with BAE Systems developing a new demonstrator set to fly in 2028 for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This initiative, involving collaboration with Italy and Japan, aims to integrate new technologies for future fighter jets. Project lead Tony Godbold emphasized the continued importance of experienced test pilots, stating that their real-world feedback is crucial for validating designs, even with extensive computer modeling.