NASA’s X-59 advances with successful engine tests and Mach diamond display

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has successfully completed a series of engine performance tests, marking a key milestone toward its first flight in 2025.

• Maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works showcased Mach diamonds (shock diamonds) in the engine’s fiery exhaust, confirming its ability to generate thrust for Mach 1.4 (925 mph) flight.
• The modified F414-GE-100 engine, similar to those in the F/A-18 Super Hornet, was tested across three phases, assessing hydraulics, electrical systems, cooling, and throttle response.
• The X-59’s unique design, including its top-mounted engine and 38-foot-long nose, aims to reduce sonic boom noise to a mild “thump,” addressing a major challenge in commercial supersonic flight over land.

Upcoming steps include electromagnetic interference evaluations, taxi tests, and final safety assessments before the X-59 takes flight. The aircraft is a key part of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to revolutionise supersonic travel by making it quieter and more practical.