NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft completed six test flights in a single week for the first time during the week of September 21, 2026. The operations brought the aircraft to 38 total test flights, according to NASA.
During one of the missions, the X-59 reached a new top speed of Mach 1.53, or approximately 1,010 mph. That figure surpasses the aircraft's typical planned cruise speed of Mach 1.4.
The six flights were carried out across three operational days in late September. The team conducted two flights on September 22, two on September 24, and two on September 25.
The sequence exceeded the X-59's previous single-week record by two flights, representing the most concentrated flight activity for the experimental aircraft so far.
Following the final flight on September 25, the X-59 entered a scheduled maintenance phase. The maintenance work is expected to last roughly three weeks, according to NASA.
Once the maintenance window concludes, the aircraft is scheduled to undergo a regular systems review.
