NASA and Lockheed Martin fire up engines on X-59 quiet supersonic experimental jet

PALMDALE, Calif. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and partner Lockheed Martin and their Skunk Works division in Palmdale, Calif. announced that they had fired up engines on the X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft.

The X-59, central to NASA's Quesst mission, is designed to fly faster than sound while producing a "thump" rather than a disruptive sonic boom. The mission will gather data on public reactions to the aircraft’s noise, aiming to inform regulators as they consider lifting bans on commercial supersonic flights over land.

Equipped with a modified General Electric Aviation F414 engine capable of 22,000 pounds of thrust, the X-59 is expected to cruise at Mach 1.4, or 925 miles per hour, at approximately 55,000 feet. The engine's placement atop the aircraft aids in noise reduction.

Related: NASA and Lockheed Martin unveil X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft

Starting on 30 October, during the first phase of testing, engineers ran the engine at low, non-ignited speeds to check for potential leaks and confirm that all systems were properly connected and communicating. With the aircraft fueled, the team then conducted tests at low power, confirming the engine and other systems operated without anomalies or leaks.

"The first phase of the engine tests was really a warmup to make sure that everything looked good prior to running the engine," said Jay Brandon, NASA’s X-59 chief engineer. "Then we moved to the actual first engine start. That took the engine out of the preservation mode that it had been in since installation on the aircraft. It was the first check to see that it was operating properly and that all the systems it impacted – hydraulics, electrical system, environmental control systems, etc. – seemed to be working."

As testing progresses, the team plans to increase engine power, perform rapid throttle changes, and simulate flight conditions to address any remaining technical issues. The first flight is anticipated in early 2025, with a precise date expected as testing milestones are completed.

Related: Lockheed's Skunk Works installs GE engine on NASA's X-59 supersonic aircraft

"The success of these runs will be the start of the culmination of the last eight years of my career," said Paul Dees, NASA’s deputy propulsion lead for the X-59. "This isn’t the end of the excitement but a small steppingstone to the beginning. It’s like the first note of a symphony, where years of teamwork behind the scenes are now being put to the test to prove our efforts have been effective, and the notes will continue to play a harmonious song to flight."