(StraightNews.org) – A new plane capable of flying from New York to London in 3.5 hours has been launched by NASA and Lockheed Martin. The supersonic jet is 100 feet long and 30 feet wide and has been nicknamed the son of Concorde. Traveling at 925 mph, the aircraft will generate less noise than a regular plane due to innovations in shaping design and technology.
Experts say that when an aircraft travels above the speed of sound, the plane generates a startling boom, which has meant the aircraft were banned.
In a press release, NASA described the X-59 quiet supersonic jet as a “one-of-a-kind experimental airplane.” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said the plane’s launch was a significant accomplishment. “In just a few short years, we’ve gone from an ambitious concept to reality. NASA’s X-59 will help change the way we travel,” she added.
The press release also described the next steps to be taken to prepare the jet for its first flight, which will be sometime later this year. The X-59 is part of NASA’s Quesst mission of collecting data on supersonic flights and persuading lawmakers to reconsider allowing commercial supersonic journeys.
The next steps will include testing of integrated systems, taxi testing, and engine runs. When all testing is complete, NASA will fly the aircraft over several American cities that will be chosen later this year.
John Clark, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, said his company was honored “to shape the future of supersonic travel over land alongside NASA and our suppliers.”
While the X-59 will undoubtedly be fast, it will not outpace the Concorde, which ceased operation in 2003. Only two airliners – Air France and British Airways – operated the Concorde, which cruised at speeds up to 1,354 miles per hour – twice the speed of sound. The plane flew commercial passengers across the Atlantic Ocean from London to New York in just under 3 hours.
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