NEXT GENERATION

‘Son of Concorde’ Makes Its Maiden Flight

It is hoped that it could cross the Atlantic in under four hours, producing a muffled sonic boom.

The ‘Son of Concorde’ has taken off for the first time marking a major breakthrough in the return to supersonic air travel. The 100-foot-long plane lifted off from California’s Palmdale Regional Airport shortly after 10 a.m. local time. The X-59 was built by Lockheed Martin on behalf of NASA and is expected to reach speeds of 925 mph, well above the speed of sound. They hope it will be able to fly at an astonishing 55,000 feet, the altitude Concorde flew at, and far higher than commercial jets currently climb. On its maiden flight, the single-engine, delta-winged jet reached heights of around 12,000 feet and speeds of 230 mph, The Daily Mail reports. Now, experts hope they have a platform to build on, slowly cranking the dial to test its full potential. If all goes to plan, that potential could see flights from New York to London being completed in under four hours. It is also hoped it will have a quieter sonic boom. Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division vice president OJ Sanchez, said, “We are thrilled to achieve the first flight of the X-59. This aircraft is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our joint team, and we are proud to be at the forefront of quiet supersonic technology development.”