Supersonic-but-quiet X-59 aircraft named 'Coolest Thing' made in CA

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A NASA jet designed for quiet supersonic flight has been named the "Coolest Thing Made in California" for 2025.

The X-59 aircraft aims to reduce the sound of a sonic boom to a gentle "thump."

Built by Lockheed Martin, the jet is the centerpiece of NASA's Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) mission.

Data from the X-59's flights will be used to potentially establish new noise rules for commercial supersonic travel over land.

A jet being developed for NASA in the Southern California desert that aims to achieve supersonic flight without sonic booms has been declared the "Coolest Thing Made in California" in 2025.

The X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft received the title from the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, which hosts the contest annually