Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst

For the Russian cruise missile ("Х-59 Овод" in cyrillic), see Kh-59.
"QueSST" redirects here. For QSST, see SAI Quiet Supersonic Transport.
X-59 Quesst
The X-59 on the ramp at Skunk Works
Role Experimental supersonic aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
Design group Swift Engineering[1][self-published source?]
Status In testing
Primary user NASA

The Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst ("Quiet SuperSonic Technology"), sometimes styled QueSST, is an American experimental supersonic aircraft under development by Skunk Works for NASA's Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator project.[2] Preliminary design started in February 2016, with the X-59 planned to begin flight testing in 2021. After delays, as of January 2024, it is planned to be delivered to NASA for flight testing in 2024. It is expected to cruise at Mach 1.42 (1,510 km/h; 937 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 ft (16,800 m), creating a low 75 effective perceived noise level (EPNdB) thump to evaluate supersonic transport acceptability.

  1. ^ "X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (LBFD)". Swift Engineering. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Gipson, Lillian (October 8, 2019). "NASA's Supersonic X-59 QueSST Coming Together at Famed Factory". NASA. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023.