X-59 © NASA
The Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) project is part of NASA’s effort to help create new aircraft noise rules that could allow commercial supersonic flights over land.
More than 50 years ago, the U.S. government banned civilian supersonic flights over land because the loud sonic booms disturbed people on the ground. If new noise standards are approved, the U.S. aviation industry could lead the future commercial supersonic market, and passengers could enjoy much shorter travel times.
X-59 © NASA
During the past decade, research and testing have shown that supersonic aircraft might fly while producing much quieter sonic booms. This breakthrough is a key step toward making commercial supersonic travel possible again.
The LBFD project will demonstrate this concept using a specially designed experimental aircraft called the Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst.
The project is part of the NASA Quesst Mission and aims to demonstrate that the X-59 can fly faster than sound without producing the loud boom typically heard on the ground. Phase 1 includes designing, building, testing on the ground, and performing early flight checks of the aircraft.
X-59 © NASA
Once the aircraft is proven safe and working as expected, Phase 2 will test whether people on the ground hear only a quiet thump instead of a loud sonic boom, and confirm that the aircraft can safely operate in the national airspace system.
After Phase 2 is completed, the X-59 will move to the NASA Integrated Aviation Systems Program’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project for the next stage of testing.
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