NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Jet Gets ‘Quiet’ Engine

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA has just taken delivery of a brand new jet engine for its X59 supersonic plane. The F414-GE-100, built by General Electric, is nearly 4 meters long and 1 meter in diameter. Two of these engines have been specifically built for NASA, one will serve as the main unit, and the other as a backup for it.

The X-59 is an experimental aircraft currently being built at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works factory. The new aircraft has been designed to produce quieter sonic booms, which should cause less disturbance over land. The primary problem with supersonic flight in urban areas is the shock wave that’s produced when an aircraft passes the sound barrier.

“With the X-59 we looked at how it will be flying, which is different from a fighter. It will have longer duration missions at high altitude with high power – often with the afterburner firing to reach supersonic speeds,” said Anthony Hazlett, GE’s X-59 demo model engineer.

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA’s new engine is actually a modified version of the powerplant that resides within SAAB’s JAS 39EE Gripen fighter jet. Extensive work was carried out to make necessary improvements to the engine. And though it may share its internals with the Swedish aircraft maker’s F414, it’s outer design and how it operates, is unique.

Initially, the X59 was supposed to receive the same jet engine used by NASA’s F/A-18 research planes, the F404. But those plans were scrapped because a single F404 couldn’t produce the required amount of thrust that the X59 needs to do its job.

Both the F404 and F414 engines have included track hardware to assist with installing the engine. However, in an attempt to save weight, the X-59’s powerplant doesn’t have tracks, instead is hoisted in place from underneath its fuselage. Once in, the electrical, fuel and various other lines will be connected. Then the engine can be fired up.

The ‘boom’ produced by supersonic aircraft can be likened to that of an explosion or thunderclap. It can be extremely disconcerting to the public down below. But the X-59, should change that. It will be tasked with gathering data on how people react to its ‘quiet boom’ , if it’s ever heard. This data will be shared with federal and international regulators.

This could eventually pave the way to allowing supersonic flight over land, which could give rise to a new breed of commercial supersonic planes, not unlike the Concorde. That said, it will be sometime before we ever hear of such aircraft. But if the X-59 can provide irrefutable proof of the relatively quite effects, new guidelines could be drawn up, in the not so distant future.