This device allows the development of supersonic commercial aircraft, significantly reducing flight time.
As Pam Milroy, NASA's deputy administrator, explained during a demonstration of the aircraft in Palmdale, California, supersonic aircraft based on the X-59 would need only half the current time (six hours and 30 minutes) to make the connection to New York. – Los Angeles.
The X-59 will fly at 1,488 kilometers per hour, about 1.4 times the speed of sound.
In this way, the X-59, co-developed by aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin's Advanced Programs unit responsible for historic aircraft such as the U-2 spies and the SR-71 Blackbird, overcomes its major hurdle. Supersonic flight.
At exceeding the speed of sound, which is about 1,235 kilometers per hour, depending on conditions, supersonic aircraft produce a boom that can exceed 200 decibels.
The problems caused by these sounds in populated areas of many countries have limited supersonic flight, effectively restricting its development.
After its introduction on Friday, the X-59 will perform a series of test flights. Next, NASA and Lockheed Martin will fly the X-59 over populated areas and collect residents' opinions about the noise.
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