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Lockheed Martin Has Started Building NASA's X-59 Experimental Supersonic Jet
Popular Mechanics ^ | 11-20-2018 | Sam Blum

Posted on 11/21/2018 12:00:37 PM PST by servo1969

Faster-than-sound flight has been possible for decades. But supersonic planes like the Concorde were more or less limited to flying over oceans because of the loud sonic booms they make. Current laws prohibit supersonic planes from breaking the sound barrier over land.

The X-59, by contrast, emits a faint "thud" when reaching its apex speed of 940 mph, which the company says is no louder than the slamming of a car door. The aircraft has a cruising altitude of 55,000 feet--about 25,000 feet higher than your standard commercial airbus.

"This aircraft has the potential to transform aviation in the United States and around the world by making faster-than-sound air travel over land possible for everyone," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press statement about the Lockheed deal. "We can't wait to see this bird fly!"

(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: lockheed; nasa; x59
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To: servo1969
It's always good to see aerospace engineers are still copying nature's perfection.


21 posted on 11/21/2018 1:32:33 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: 1Old Pro
"The new version will be more like an eagle".
22 posted on 11/21/2018 2:27:26 PM PST by Redcitizen (I don't always lurk, but when I do, Freerepublic.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

‘Gotta say I love to fly.


23 posted on 11/21/2018 3:35:46 PM PST by onedoug
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To: servo1969

Not enough wings.


24 posted on 11/21/2018 4:11:05 PM PST by Mr. Blond
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To: cpdiii
"High Fuel Burn is what killed the Concord"

Yep, right over the runway on take off after hitting debris.

*Before that crash, they had a business of super sonic Gulf of Mexico flights out of DFW airport

25 posted on 11/21/2018 4:48:28 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Republic F-105?


26 posted on 11/21/2018 5:09:37 PM PST by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: GraceG

YF-12A / SR-71. LBJ announcement.


27 posted on 11/21/2018 5:11:00 PM PST by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: NorthMountain

Hence the X- prefix.


28 posted on 11/21/2018 5:11:47 PM PST by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: YogicCowboy

Wasn’t the “Chief” supposed to run on the deck supersonic, then lob a nuke from a steep climb angle?


29 posted on 11/21/2018 8:25:03 PM PST by Ozark Tom
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