Continuation of ground tests …
Slowly the Lockhheed Martin X-59 “Quesst” (acronym of Quiet Supersonic Transport) approaches his first flight. It was at the end of March that the team at the origin of the NASA X-59 discreetly finished in March a new critical test on the ground, ensuring that the silent supersonic plane will be able to maintain a specific speed during its inaugural flight and then, during the following test flights. This essay, known as the engine diet, is the last marker of the progress made by the X-59 as it approaches its first flight this year. “Maintaining the engine diet is essentially the version of the plane cruise control,” said Paul Dees, deputy manager of the X-59 propulsion at the Armstrong Flight Research Center research center in NASA in Edwards, in California. “The pilot starts maintaining speed at its current speed, then can gradually adjust it up or down depending on his needs,” explains Paul Dees.
… on the speed control system …
The team dedicated to X-59 had already carried out a similar test on the engine, but only as an isolated system. The March test made it possible to verify that the maintenance of the speed is working properly after its integration into the aircraft of the device. “We had to verify that the maintenance of speed was working not only on the engine itself, but also on the entire plane system,” said Paul Dees. “This test has confirmed that all components – software, mechanical links and control laws – work together as expected. The success of the test confirmed the plane’s ability to control its speed precisely, which will be very useful during the flight. This capacity will increase the safety of pilots, which can focus on other essential aspects of flight operations, ”adds Paul Dees.
… for a first safe flight
“During the first flight, the pilot will be very busy ensuring that the plane is stable and controllable,” said Paul Dees. “Being unloaded from part of this workload makes the first flight all the safer.” The team initially planned to check the maintenance of speed as part of a next series of ground tests during which it will provide the plane with a set of solid data to verify its operation under normal conditions and in failure conditions.
