The X-59 Supersonic jet that NASA and Lockheed Martin are working on has just a little time to take off. While it is stated that the platform will take off at the end of 2020, it is aimed to start test flights in 2022. NASA seeks to develop it into an ultra-quiet craft that can travel faster than the speed of sound across the land.
Further testing will follow the plane's completion this year to ensure that this is the case and that the aircraft not only functions and reaches the desired speeds, but also remains silent enough to not disturb the public. Construction is only Phase 1 of the entire project. Phase 2 will see further testing, certifications and acoustic (or sound) validation. NASA outlined in a statement that the third phase will see community-based testing, which will observe the human response to a low-boom (a quiet sonic boom) caused by the craft flying overhead.
