NASA’s Mike Lippert Takes Controls of X-59 for First Time

NASA test pilot Mike Lippert put months of simulator training and ground preparation into practice, completing his first flight in the agency's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft.

Lippert took off Oct. 21 from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, and landed one hour later. During the flight, he reached a maximum speed of Mach 1.4 and an altitude of 55,000 feet.

Although the X-59 has flown numerous times, the flight marked Lippert's first opportunity to fly an X-plane over the course of his nearly 11 years of piloting high-performance aircraft.

"After completing our high-altitude test points, there was a brief period where we descended and decelerated, where I was able to look outside and recognize that I was flying supersonic in an X-plane over the high deserts of the Mojave," Lippert said. "It was a special moment for sure."

The flight came after scheduled maintenance and a review of the X-59's systems following the aircraft's busiest week of testing to date. In September, the aircraft completed six flights in three days.

During its return to flight Lippert performed various maneuvers to assess the aircraft's handling while the team evaluated its systems.

Lippert spent months preparing for the milestone. In August, he completed his first engine run, gaining experience with the cockpit and working alongside the mission control team. He also logged extensive simulator time and trained alongside fellow NASA test pilots Nils Larson and Jim "Clue" Less. The preparation ensured Lippert could make a smooth transition from the simulator to piloting the X-59.

"This flight was very special to me," Lippert said. "For as long as I can remember, I've dreamt of doing exactly what I got to do today, testing a truly unique aircraft and working with the exceptional people on this test team."

Learn more about the Quesst mission on NASA's site.