NASA's X-59 experimental aircraft, with its long slender nose, parked on a runway tarmac — NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft landed in Birmingham on Thursday, October 29. (Ashton Johnson)

An experimental supersonic research aircraft built for NASA’s Quesst mission landed at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) on Thursday, October 29, as it continues its cross-country journey from California to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the X-59 Quesst is designed to reach supersonic speeds without the typical “sonic boom.”

What is the Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst?

A pilot climbs a ladder into a NASA research jet's open cockpit as ground crew assist nearby — A pilot climbs into the cockpit of NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft as crew members prepare for its next flight. (Ashton Johnson)

If you’ve ever been to an air show or seen movies like Top Gun or Iron Man, you’re probably familiar with what a “sonic boom” is—even if you don’t know it. Known by its loud, explosive “boom” and characteristic airwave, sonic booms are the shock waves created by an object traveling faster than the speed of sound. For those keeping score at home, that’s somewhere in the ballpark of 750 miles per hour.

While supersonic capabilities are common on military aircraft, commercial supersonic flight over land has been banned in the United States for over half a century due to the disruptive nature of sonic booms.

That’s where NASA’s Quesst mission comes in.

A decade ago, the Quesst (“Quiet SuperSonic Technology”) program began researching unique aircraft technologies that could replace the “boom” with a quiet, muffled “thump.” At the center of the mission is the Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst, a one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft designed to fly supersonic—without the boom.

Bonus: Want to be a virtual passenger on the X-59? Click here to sign up and add your name to NASA’s list of virtual passengers!

Why is NASA’s X-59 in Birmingham?

NASA's X-59 experimental aircraft on the tarmac with ground crew preparing it, surrounded by support vehicles — NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft sits on the tarmac at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport as ground crews prepare for its next flight. (Ashton Johnson)

After making its inaugural flight on October 28, 2025, the Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst has spent the last year undergoing test flights at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In the lead-up to NASA’s MAX POWER tech expo and air show at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 7 and 8, the X-59 began a cross-country flight from the Golden State to the Sunshine State.

As part of its journey, the X-59 has made refueling stops in El Paso and Fort Worth, Texas—and now, at the Magic City’s BHM airport. The aircraft is expected to embark on the final leg of its cross-country journey today.

Following the flight, NASA will survey how people respond when the X-59 flies overhead, which will help better inform regulators when it comes to determining acceptable noise thresholds related to supersonic commercial flights over the country.

Did you see the X-59 fly into Birmingham? Tag us with any pictures or videos you took on Instagram @bhamnow!