Researchers from NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently tested a scale model of the X-59 experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel in the city of Chofu., Japan. An image of the model in the tunnel has been released 11 July 2025 year.
This test was an important milestone for the unique X-59 aircraft, which must fly at supersonic speeds without creating a loud sonic boom. During the flight, noise will become a critical factor, which people on the ground will hear is the result of pressure waves, arising under the aircraft body.
This is already the third stage of testing the model in wind tunnels: the previous ones took place at the JAXA base, and at the NASA Research Center in Cleveland, USA. The collected data will help to more accurately predict the noise level, resulting from supersonic shock waves.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/putting-the-x-59-to-the-test/