Aircraft
Skunk Works Cuts Metal on First X-59 Components
Lockheed Martin has started construction on the first parts of its Low Boom Technology supersonic testbed
The initial parts of Lockheed Martin's experimental X-59 Low Boom Demonstrator aircraft are taking shape. (Lockheed Martin photo)
The initial parts of Lockheed Martin's experimental X-59 Low Boom Demonstrator aircraft are taking shape. (Lockheed Martin photo)

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has begun cutting metal for the first components of its X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology test aircraft. Earlier this year, NASA selected the famed Skunk Works team to design and build an airframe to experiment with aerodynamics and other techniques for mitigating sonic booms, with an eye toward removing FAA restrictions against supersonic flight over land.