** NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic airplane has found a revitalized new home at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, marking a significant step in its mission to reduce sonic booms.
📍 ** Edwards, California, USA
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The X-59 quiet supersonic airplane is now parked in front of its new hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, a facility originally constructed in 1968. The hangar, built in 1968 and recently renovated, has been completely modernized with new electrical wiring, a fire suppression system, office space, and air conditioning, creating a state-of-the-art environment for the aircraft. Project Manager Bryan Watters emphasized the team's pride in transforming the 1960s hangar for the demands of a 2020s X-plane, highlighting the project’s special nature.
The renovation was driven by the need for a suitable home for the X-59 as part of NASA’s Quesst mission, aimed at enabling a new era of commercial supersonic air travel by minimizing the disruptive sound of sonic booms. Originally assembled in Palmdale, California, the X-59 required a hangar capable of accommodating its size – just under 100 feet long and 30 feet wide – and the necessary support equipment. The team meticulously searched for a suitable space, ultimately choosing Building 4826, which underwent a complete rebuild from a stripped-down state, including a massive 32,000 square foot epoxy-coated floor.
The project faced challenges, notably supply chain disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team successfully completed the renovations, preparing the hangar for test flights led by pilot Nils Larson, who took the X-59 into the air for the first time on October 28, 2025. The renovated hangar provides a vital base of operations for this groundbreaking research and development program.
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** #NASA #X59 #SupersonicFlight #SonicBoom #Aerospace #SpaceTech #Innovation #QuietSupersonic #ArmstrongFlightResearchCenter