Vital parts of X-59 supersonic jet delivered as plane takes shape, vertical tail made of Aluminium alloy

The vertical tail of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft has been delivered to Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.

The assembling of the supersonic jet is taking shape in Palmdale in anticipation of the X-59’s first flight in mid-2022. The vertical tail is made of an aluminium alloy, and the pale green colour comes from a corrosion-protecting coating applied to the bare metal.

The structure will be placed atop the single F414-GE-100 jet engine to form the X-59’s tail and contribute to the aircraft’s overall height of 14ft.

Designed to produce quiet sonic ‘thumps’ when flying supersonic, the X-59 will be flown over select communities to measure public perception of the sound. Results will be given to regulators to use in determining new rules that could allow commercial faster-than-sound air travel overland.

The F414-GE-100 engine that will power the X-plane was delivered to the Armstrong Flight Research Center in August. Nearly 13ft long, 3ft in diameter, the engine packs 22,000lb of afterburner enhanced jet propulsion.

David Richardson, X-59 Programme Director, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, said:  “We are over half-way complete with the build of this one-of-a-kind X-plane. We will soon complete close-out of the wing, which is the central structural anchor of the aircraft, and we will then prepare formate of the empennage, fuselage, and the distinctive, super long nose.  The team has done a phenomenal job of advancing aerospace technology and working through challenges to drive progress, all of which has been enabled by our close partnership with NASA.”