‘Son Of Concorde’ Jet Could Fly You From London To New York In 90 minutes

NASA

A "son of Concorde" is one step closer to taking off, hopefully with a "supersonic thump," as it prepares to depart New York for London in one and a half hours.

The goal of NASA's quiet supersonic passenger jet, the X-59, is to travel at nearly double the speed of sound, or faster than the speed of sound.

According to the space agency, the aircraft has been relocated to the paint barn at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works site in Palmdale, California, in anticipation of its maiden voyage.

Not only does the paint job look good, but it will also provide essential protection when the plane soars through the skies at speeds of up to 925 mph.

NASA

After painting, the crew will weigh it down and measure its precise shape to help with computer modeling. 

This will help to minimize noise disturbance to those below ground by reducing the sound of the conventional sonic boom to a thump.

About 50 routes connecting cities have potential passenger markets, according to a report from NASA in August.

One route is projected to provide up to four times faster flights than current jets from New York City to London.

NASA

"The X-59's paint scheme will feature red accents on the wings, a NASA "sonic blue" underside, and a mostly white body," stated a statement from NASA.

‘The paint doesn’t just add cosmetic value. It also serves a purpose – the paint helps to protect the aircraft from moisture and corrosion and includes key safety markings to assist with ground and flight operations.’

The project manager for the low boom flight demonstrator, Cathy Bahm, stated: ‘We are incredibly excited to reach this step in the mission. When the X-59 emerges from the paint barn with fresh paint and livery, I expect the moment to take my breath away, because I’ll see our vision coming to life.’

‘The year ahead will be a big one for the X-59, and it will be thrilling for the outside of the aircraft to finally match the spectacular mission ahead.’

NASA

The X-59 is the main component of NASA's Quesst mission, which aims to collect information regarding people's opinions of the sound it produces by flying the aircraft over a number of US communities that have not yet been chosen.

NASA will give the information to authorities, who may decide to change the current regulations that forbid commercial supersonic flight over land.

The space agency looked into the viability of supersonic passenger flights earlier this year using planes that could reach speeds of between Mach 2 and Mach 4 (1,535 to 3,045 mph at sea level).

Larger aircraft of today fly at about 600 mph, or 80% the speed of sound, in contrast.

The greatest cruise speed of the Concorde was 1,354 mph, or Mach 2.04.

The X-59 symbolizes NASA's commitment to advancing aviation technology, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in air travel, and potentially reshaping regulations for commercial supersonic flight over land.

The year ahead holds the promise of significant milestones for the X-59, poised to captivate the world as it embarks on its transformative mission.

The aircraft's progress reflects a pioneering effort to usher in a new era of supersonic travel, marking a notable step forward in NASA's pursuit of cutting-edge aerospace innovations.