NASA's Supersonic Flight Test Over Mojave Desert a Success
NASA recently conducted a successful supersonic flight test over the Mojave Desert using two modified F-15 research jets. The mission, part of NASA's Quesst project, aimed to validate tools for measuring and visualizing shock waves, paving the way for quieter supersonic flight over land.
The F-15s, originally tactical aircraft, were transformed into fully instrumented research platforms. They flew in dual ship formation, collecting data from one another to test and validate three key tools under real-world conditions.
The first tool validated was a near-field shock-sensing probe. This device measures the pressure and temperature changes caused by the shock waves generated during supersonic flight. The second tool, an Airborne Location Integrating Geospatial Navigation System, guided the pilots to precisely position the aircraft for schlieren photography. The third tool, an Airborne Schlieren Photography System, provided crucial data by visualizing changes in air density caused by the shock waves.
The F-15D led the data-gathering efforts using the onboard probe, while the F-15B served as a backup. Both aircraft flew at supersonic speeds, generating shock waves that were then measured and visualized using the validated tools.
The successful flight test brings NASA's Quesst mission one step closer to its goal of making supersonic flight over land quieter. The validated tools will now be used to measure and visualize the shock waves generated by the X-59, a quieter supersonic aircraft designed to fly at Mach 1.4 and altitudes above 50,000 feet. The data collected will be crucial for refining the design of the X-59 and other future supersonic aircraft.
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