What Happened
Cockpit Alert Issue Resolved After Brief Grounding
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has resumed testing after resolving a cockpit alert issue that forced an early return on March 20. The issue, which proved to be a false positive, was addressed, and the aircraft conducted back-to-back flights on March 26 and 27. The X-59, built by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, is designed to reduce the sonic boom associated with supersonic flight. According to Aviation Week, the aircraft’s testing aims to expand its flight envelope, with NASA Test Pilot Jim Less at the controls. The X-59 program is a significant step towards developing supersonic aircraft for commercial use, as reported by Aviation Week.