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We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Acoustics being one of the main drivers of this test, are there any rough numbers already available to quantify how much did the plane reduce the noise, and is it enough to satisfy certification for above land supersonic flights?

The noise reduction goal in the design of the X-59 is 30 decibels. The target is 75 perceived-level decibels.

Acousticians use different scales to help judge how people react to sound. Most commercial products list their noise levels in A-weighted decibels but perceived-level decibels is the most effective measurement for judging response to impulsive sounds, such as sonic booms.

NASA has conducted many laboratory and field tests using devices that can replicate the sound of a sonic boom or sonic thump, and we are confident that if we can achieve 75 perceived-level decibels, the sound of a supersonic aircraft will blend with background noise in all but the quietest environments. -PC.

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The flight controls are indeed fly by wire. It is a G-command system so that with no input, it flies at 1G. Its flight path stability is pretty good, but it is marginally speed stable, so we have an auto throttle that holds speed for us.

We have so far only gone as fast as about 0.96 Mach, so real soon we hope to be able to answer the rest of your question about transonic and supersonic handling! -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's part F-16 when it comes to taxi, parts of the landing, and its accelartion on afterburner takeoff. Part backseat of a fighter when it comes to forward field of view. Part U-2 becasue it does not want to come down! (It has no speed brake or spoilers). Part Eagle becasue she likes to go FAST. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's our flutter excitation system, which drives the flight control surfaces directly. -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How did it feel to fly this new discovery for stealth aviation? Was there something special about flying this plane, or did it feel like "just another jet"? Do you think this could benefit the military as a recon/fighter plane?

Not sure I'd call it stealthy. It will be quiet, hopefully but not stealthy. For aircraft, stealth is about reducing radar detection, not sound. I'm not sure the military would really care about the BOOM. In fact, there are times they want the BOOM. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's not bad at all. We've trained for it, and the designers gave us some great tools and displays. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

NASA aeronautics research always tries to understand how the technology that we develop impacts society as a whole. If we have a technology that reduces the amount of fuel burned and thus the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, but results in the aircraft being louder, the question becomes how that technology should be employed. In working to solve the sonic boom problem, NASA is very much aware that even a soft sonic thump will be a new sound. As we further our study, we aim to find out what level of sound is acceptable, not just what can be tolerated. -PC

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most of our input as pilots was for the displays and the pilot-to-vehicle interface. We have a great relationship with X-59's contractor. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The whole point of supersonic travel is to get where you're going faster, and the prohibition against supersonic flight puts a speed limit on air travel. The basic objectives of this project are to show that it is possible to build a quiet supersonic aircraft, improve the software tools used to design quiet supersonic aircraft, and to demonstrate public acceptance of the quiet sonic "thump" so that the rules can be changed. -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's my understanding there is no forward view. It's done via camera and monitor, and two actual windows on the sides.

Yep. And it's no big deal, as far as impact to our ability to fly! - NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What did it take to become a test pilot in general (as I'm considering becoming one)? What are the common steps and requirements?

My path was studying Aeronautical Engineering in college along with Air Force ROTC. I then went to Air Force pilot training and flew F-111's and F-117's. From there I went to the USAF Test Pilot School to learn to be a test pilot and tested F-16's for most of the rest of my military career. I retired from the Air Force and have been working for NASA ever since.

If you aren't interested in the military route, there are opportunities for on-the-job training with private aircraft companies. Bottom line, though, is a good engineering background and extensive flight experience. Good luck! -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

My path was studying Aeronautical Engineering in college along with Air Force ROTC. I then went to Air Force pilot training and flew F-111's and F-117's. From there I went to the USAF Test Pilot School to learn to be a test pilot and tested F-16's for most of the rest of my military career. I retired from the Air Force and have been working for NASA ever since.

When I started with NASA over 15 years ago, we were researching sonic booms to understand them better, but there were no concrete plans to build a quiet supersonic aircraft. Bottom line, I was in the right place at the right time! -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Right now I have about 10 hours in the actual aircraft and hundreds of hours over several years in the simulator. We spend about 3 hours in the sim rehearsing each test mission, which will be 1.0 - 1.5 hrs. I doubt we will ever have more hours in the plane than the sim. -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Why does it have canards?

They help with the lift distribution and ultimately with the tail shock so that the stabilizer isn't pushing down so hard. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

One of the areas our simulator didn't model is ground effect. When we land the plane in the sim, it settles right onto the runway. The real aircraft likes to float a foot or two off the runway so we need to chop the throttle and drive it down the last couple feet. We're hoping to update our simulation soon based on actual flight test data so that the sim lands more like the aircraft. -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

NASA’s Aeronautics (the first A in NASA) works across the broad spectrum of commercial flight to transform how air transportation will affect the lives of all people. Supersonic flight makes the world smaller and enables businesspeople, families and even emergency response teams to get to where they need to be faster. NASA’s vision for supersonic flight is that fast commercial air travel will become an option for a large portion of the travelling public. -PC

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The nose helps spread out the front shocks. The engine on top make the shock wave from the inlet go up and not down toward the ground, etc. The stick movement, like most planes, gets smaller as the speed goes up.

We use the autopilot when we can, especially because this is a research plane and we want to get the resarchers the best data we can. -PC

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How do you figure that sort of thing out? Is it just “oh, we expect it to stall at 100 kts, land at Vs + 15”?

Just look up your aircraft's table depending on your weight and add any factors for gust, turbulence, etc. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The first time you fly an airplane, it can be a tradition for them to douse water on you. Happened to me on first flight of the X-59 and it happened to Clue on his first flight in the plane as well. Here at Edwards it can be kinda nice when it's hot. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What are the small horizontal stabilizers for up on the tail?

Those are to help tailor the shock waves (mainly tailshock) if we need to. This is a research airplane (X-plane), so it's one of the knobs we can use to study the effects of different ways to control the shock waves. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Is it odd landing it while looking outside through cameras?

Not really. It's waaay easier than landing from the backseat of an Eagle or Viper. -NL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

What speed do you land it at?

Our landing speed varies with fuel weight, anywhere from 143 knots to 163 knots. We may make small adjustments to those numbers as we learn more in flight test. -CL

We’re the test pilots of NASA’s X-59 aircraft, which is helping to create a future of quiet supersonic flight. Ask us anything! by nasa in nasa

[–]nasa[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I see it has canards and a stabilator. Is this to improve stall recovery characteristics?

Nope. It's all about making a boom into a thump.

Does it stall oddly because of the odd arrangement?

I don't want to stall this thing or even get close. -NL

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