Another massive step for aviation innovation with the X59 supersonic jet  

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Aviation is at the top of industry when it comes to innovation. And recent evidence for this is the recent unveiling of the X59 supersonic jet by NASA and Lockheed Martin.

The manufacturers say that the X59 will fly from New York to London in as little as three and a half hours, that’s roughly 767 miles an hour.

Aiming to enter commercial usage by 2035, the impressive jet measures 99.7 feet in length and 29.5 feet in breadth.

What makes this aircraft truly remarkable is that its design aims to overcome previous issues supersonic jets had with sound restrictions due the sonic booms they would create. This is what got these aircraft banned in certain airspaces in the past.

But NASA and Lockheed Martin say the X59’s long and tapered nose was created to break up shock waves that would result in sonic boom. An incredible design innovation that could potentially allow this aircraft to enter the public realm as an optional means of transportation.

The speed at which it will be able to travel has never been achieved in commercial flight before, as it flies at lightning speeds of 925 miles per hour, or 1.4 times the speed of sound.

Of course, the aircraft has just been unveiled and the rollout completed. It is undoubtedly going to be in for a huge amount of testing and preparation for first flight: integrated systems testing, engine runs, and taxi testing before it can be rolled out. But the achievement is remarkable and could see us enter a whole new world of air travel possibilities.

For more information about the X59, visit NASA’s webpage here.

For more Executive Insight, visit UAS Blog