X-planes: Needed in the new drone era?

NASA's X-59 aircraft, characterized by its long anteater-like nose and a camera-dependent cockpit, is exploring ways to quiet the sonic booms produced by supersonic jets. The aircraft's design aims to reshape the forceful sonic shockwave into a tolerable background noise, potentially paving the way for overland supersonic flights that were previously restricted for aircraft like Concorde.

The X-plane philosophy centers on tackling small, specific goals. Historically, the Bell X-1 broke the sound barrier in 1947, and the X-15 rocket plane achieved significant speed records and explored the edge of space in the 1960s. The X-59 is focused exclusively on sonic boom suppression on a budget, utilizing parts cannibalized from other aircraft, including a T-38 trainer jet and an F-16 fighter, with an engine from an F-18.

NASA is currently conducting community surveys with the X-59 flights to gauge public perception of the quieted booms. The aircraft is expected to sound like "a car door closing down the street" as it passes Mach 1. The plane is flying over selected U.S. towns to gather data on this quieter supersonic experience.

The question arises whether piloted X-planes still hold relevance in a world where inexpensive and rapidly developing drones are prevalent, as seen in the conflict in Ukraine. While NASA considered an unmanned X-59, removing the pilot would have incurred additional costs and complexity for certifying a robotic jet for high-speed flight over urban areas. A smaller, unmanned X-48 tested a blended wing body concept in 2007, but future X-planes are likely to be uncrewed unless the research pertains to piloting or if crewed operation proves more cost-effective.