NASA Test Pilot Mike Lippert Takes Helm of X-59 Quiet Supersonic Jet in 2026 Flight Milestone

NASA test pilot Mike Lippert has added his name to the short list of aviators who have flown the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, marking his first flight in the experimental jet on Oct. 21, 2026. The X-59, built by Lockheed Martin, is designed to reduce the sonic boom to a gentle thump, potentially paving the way for overland supersonic commercial travel. Since its inaugural flight in November 2025, the X-59 has completed numerous test missions, including its first supersonic flight on June 5, 2026. Lippert’s flight from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California is part of the ongoing envelope expansion and data collection phase. The program aims to gather community response data that could lead regulators to lift bans on supersonic flight over land. With each new pilot and flight hour, NASA moves closer to proving the X-59’s quiet supersonic technology works in real-world conditions. The next major milestone will be acoustic validation flights over populated areas, expected to begin in 2027.