NASA’s X-59 takes off: The race to resurrect supersonic flight begins

After years of development, NASA’s supersonic airplane takes its first flight.

At last, the X-59 is airborne. NASA’s quiet supersonic airplane took to the skies in Palmdale, California, successfully landing back a few minutes later. While this initial sortie on October 28 was a subsonic check of basic systems and airworthiness, the flight represents the penultimate step toward reviving supersonic passenger travel over land.