Loud sonic booms occur when an object travels faster than the soundwaves it produces.
The experimental plane was originally expected to make its first flight in 2023.
The plane also underwent structural testing and ground tests.
The X-59 in its hangar in Palmdale, California.Photo:Lockheed Martin / Garry TIce
Now were inching very close to the aircrafts first flight, slated for sometime this year.
That will only mark the beginning of the X-59s Phase 1.
Currently, theFederal Aviation Administration does not allowcivil aircraft to travel over speeds exceeding Mach 1.
An artist’s depiction of the X-59 in flight.Illustration:NASA, Lockheed Martin
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