NASA has reached a significant milestone in validating the airworthiness of its quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft by successfully completing a crucial milestone review.
An independent Flight Readiness Review board comprised of experts from NASA has thoroughly examined the X-59 project team’s safety approach for both ground and flight testing, focusing on public and staff safety. The board meticulously assessed the project team’s hazard analysis, emphasized safety and risk identification.
The Flight Readiness Review marks the crucial initial phase of the flight approval process. The board’s findings will offer invaluable insights and recommendations to ensure thorough systems checkouts on the ground and a successful first flight for the X-59 team.
“It’s not a pass-fail,” said Cathy Bahm, NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project manager. “We’ll be getting actions from the board and will work with them to resolve those and work toward the Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review.”
NASA and its prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, are currently collaborating on the development of the X-59 with the goal of minimizing the noise generated by a sonic boom to a more subdued “thump.”
The aircraft is a key component of NASA’s Quest mission, which aims to collect data that could potentially revolutionize air travel. This data could ultimately lead to the creation of a new fleet of commercial aircraft capable of traveling faster than the speed of sound.
For over 50 years, commercial supersonic flight over land has been prohibited due to the disruptive noise caused by sonic booms.
“The Flight Readiness Review focused on specific aspects of the X-59 team’s work on the aircraft but also served as an overview and update on the entire project,” said Jay Brandon, chief engineer for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project. “It gave us the opportunity to stop working for a minute and gather what we’ve done so we could tell our story, not just to the board, but to the whole project team.”
Following the completion of the Flight Readiness Review, the next crucial safety milestone will be the Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review. This review board, comprised of senior leaders from various NASA centers and Lockheed Martin, will assess the findings from the Flight Readiness Review and the project team’s response. Subsequently, the board will submit a recommendation to the director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, who holds the authority to sign the airworthiness certificate.
The X-59 team will present a technical brief to a review board, outlining test objectives, testing procedures, associated risks, and the team’s risk-mitigation efforts. This will be followed by addressing any concerns raised by the board, led by NASA Armstrong chief engineer Cynthia J. “CJ” Bixby, before a flight request is approved.
“It’s an exciting time on the project,” said Bahm. “Though challenging, we have a clear set of tasks ahead of us.”
The X-59 team is making significant progress toward the commencement of flights, with major ground tests focusing on systems integration, engine runs, and electromagnetic interference on the horizon.
The aircraft’s innovative design incorporates components from established aircraft, such as landing gear from an Air Force F-16 fighter, a cockpit canopy from a NASA T-38 trainer, and a control stick from an Air Force F-117 stealth fighter.
“None of these systems have ever worked and played together before,” said Brad Neal, chairman of the X-59 Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review board. “It’s a brand-new thing that we are developing, even though they’re components that have been on different legacy aircraft. As we get into integration testing here, it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn.”
