Why The X-59 QueSST Will Be The 1st Supersonic Aircraft To Fly Without A Sonic Boom

The NASA X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) is now flying and soon will start test flights aimed at reducing the sonic boom to a thump for people on the ground. While this seeks to overcome one of the greatest barriers facing supersonic flight, it is far from the only one. Sonic booms are often credited as the top reason for the failure of Concorde, although the reality is more complicated.