NASA’s X-59 Demonstrator Goes Supersonic | Aviation International News

NASA’s X-59 Demonstrator Goes Supersonic

X-plane reached Mach 1.1 during 81-minute flight

NASA X-59 demonstrator — Now that it has achieved Mach 1.1, NASA’s X-59 demonstrator is poised to further expand the speed envelope to Mach 1.4 shortly.

By Kerry Lynch • Editor, AIN monthly magazine

June 8, 2026

NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft reached supersonic speeds for the first time on Friday, the agency announced. Piloted by NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less, the aircraft departed at 11:08 a.m. PDT from Edwards Air Force Base in California for an 81-minute flight that reached about Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 43,400 feet.

During the June 5 flight, the X-59 team focused on flying qualities of the aircraft during subsonic and supersonic speeds. Plans call to stretch performance to Mach 1.4 and 55,000 feet in the coming days.

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