Space agency NASA and aerospace company Lockheed Martin have presented their experimental X-59 supersonic jet, which has a form designed to reduce the loudness of a sonic boom.
According to the companies, the experimental aircraft was "designed to quiet the sonic boom" and marks a "significant milestone" in the decades-long research project aimed at resolving noise challenges associated with supersonic flight.
The X-59 reduces the sound of a sonic boom to a "gentle thump"
The aircraft, which has a cruising speed of 925 miles per hour, was presented for the first time last month by Lockheed Martin's advanced development division Skunk Works.
"Lockheed Martin Skunk Works rolled out the X-59, a unique experimental aircraft designed to quiet the sonic boom, at a ceremony in Palmdale, California," said the company. "The ceremony marked a significant milestone in Lockheed Martin and NASA's decades-long journey to solve one of the most persistent challenges of supersonic flight ? the sonic boom."
The aircraft is expected to complete its first flight later this year
The 30.3-metre-long (99.7-feet) aircraft was designed to reduce the shockwaves and noise created when the sound barrier is broken ? known as a sonic boom.
NASA and Lockheed Martin made the X-59 with a long tapered nose designed to separate the shock waves that cause sonic booms, thereby reducing the potential sound and damage risks associated with other supersonic aircra...