Bringing Back Supersonic Flight
From Small Steps, Giant Leaps by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
January 21, 2026 · 26 min · Episode 166
About this episode
The episode discusses NASA's X-59 plane and its potential to change commercial supersonic flight by reducing sonic boom noise.
Currently, flying faster than the speed of sound over land is prohibited for commercial flights because it creates disruptive sonic booms. NASA's experimental X-59 plane will research how to turn those booms into "sonic thumps," about as loud as a slamming car door. Lead pilot Nils Larson explains how the X-59 could usher in the next era of commercial supersonic flight.
People in this episode
Guest: Nils Larson
Topics covered
- supersonic flight
- sonic booms
- aviation technology
- experimental aircraft
- commercial aviation
Keywords
- supersonic
- X-59
- sonic thumps
- Nils Larson
- NASA
- aviation
- commercial flights
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA
Products: X-59
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