NASA Gets Fighter Jets to Chase Supersonic Quiet Plane

Two retired fighter jets just got a second career that could change how we fly forever.

NASA welcomed a pair of F-15 jets to its California research center in December, tasked with a mission that sounds like science fiction. They'll chase the X-59, an experimental aircraft designed to fly faster than sound without the thunderous boom that usually comes with breaking the sound barrier.

The stakes are huge. If NASA can prove quiet supersonic flight works, cross-country trips could take half the time they do now. Industries that depend on rapid response times, from emergency medical transport to time-sensitive cargo delivery, could be transformed.

One F-15 will fly alongside the X-59 at 60,000 feet, higher than almost any commercial plane can reach. It's equipped with special sensors that measure air pressure changes as the X-59 breaks the sound barrier. The other jet will be used for parts to keep the research fleet running.

"These two aircraft will enable successful data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 through the life of the project," said Troy Asher, director of flight operations at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The X-59 cruises at 55,000 feet during test flights, well above the 30,000 to 40,000 feet where commercial planes typically fly. The F-15 chase plane carries specialized cameras that can actually visualize how air flows around the supersonic aircraft, capturing data that would be impossible to collect any other way.

The Ripple Effect

NASA's X-59 took its first flight in October 2024, performing exactly as planned according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin. That successful test flight marked the beginning of a new chapter in aviation history.

The F-15s bring decades of research experience to the mission. NASA has been flying these jets since the early 1970s, using them for dozens of scientific experiments that advanced our understanding of high-speed flight. Now they're helping unlock technology that could make supersonic passenger travel quiet enough for use over land, something that's been banned for commercial flights since the Concorde era.

The research team is already preparing to modify one of the F-15s with new equipment and software specialized for tracking the X-59. Every test flight brings engineers closer to understanding whether truly quiet supersonic flight can become a reality for everyday travelers.

What started as military aircraft are now flying for a peaceful purpose: making the skies faster and quieter for everyone.