NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft made its historic inaugural flight on October 28, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in aviation history. Taking off at 11:14 a.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, the X-59 flew for 67 minutes before landing at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Piloted by NASA test pilot Nils Larson, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet and a maximum speed of 230 mph, adhering strictly to the planned parameters. As a precautionary measure typical for experimental flights, the X-59’s landing gear remained deployed throughout the flight, ensuring safety during this critical first test.
The successful completion of the X-59’s first flight is just the beginning, as the team now shifts its focus to a series of subsequent test flights. These upcoming tests are crucial as they will allow the X-59 to operate at higher altitudes and supersonic speeds, which are essential for validating the aircraft’s performance and safety standards. This initiative is part of NASA’s Quesst mission (Quiet Supersonic Flight), aimed at revolutionizing air travel by minimizing the disruptive sonic booms typically associated with supersonic flight. The innovative design and advanced technology of the X-59 are expected to pave the way for future supersonic transport aircraft, potentially transforming commercial aviation and making quiet supersonic travel a reality. As the team prepares for the next phases of testing, the aviation community and enthusiasts alike eagerly anticipate the advancements that the X-59 will bring to the skies.
NASA/Lori Losey
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft took off for its
historic first flight
on Oct. 28, 2025, at 11:14 a.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The one-of-a-kind aircraft flew for 67 minutes before landing and taxiing to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
NASA test pilot
Nils Larson
flew the X-59 up to an altitude of about 12,000 feet and an approximate top speed of 230 mph, precisely as planned. The plane’s landing gear remained down during the entire flight, a common practice for experimental aircraft flying for the first time.
Now that the X-59’s first flight is in the books, the team is focused on preparing for a series of test flights where the aircraft will operate at higher altitudes and supersonic speeds. This test flight phase of NASA’s
Quesst mission
will ensure the X-59 meets performance and safety expectations.
Through the Quesst mission, NASA aims to usher in a new age of quiet supersonic flight, achieved through the unique design and technology of the X-59 in future supersonic transport aircraft.
Image Credit: NASA/Lori Losey
