Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works · United States · first flew 2025 · fighter
The Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) is NASA's experimental supersonic demonstrator designed to produce a quiet sonic 'thump' rather than a disruptive boom, paving the way for overland supersonic commercial flight. Its extraordinarily elongated nose is its defining visual feature.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 30.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Extremely long needle nose accounting for a third of aircraft length
- Low-boom supersonic demonstrator with delta-like clipped wing
- Cockpit has no forward windshield — external vision system only
Unmistakeable due to its impossibly long nose, narrow fuselage, and very short wingspan relative to overall length — the cockpit lacks a conventional windshield.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST has a length of 30.35 m (100 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.99 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1510 km/h (938 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for NASA's Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator programme, the X-59 completed its first flight in January 2025. The aircraft will fly over US communities to gather public response data on its reduced-boom sonic signature.
Variants
A single prototype has been built for the NASA QUESST mission; no production variants are planned.
Where you'll see it
Operated by NASA for supersonic research; not a combat or transport aircraft.
Related aircraft
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