NASA's Quest mission has reached an important milestone with the start of testing of the engine that will power the X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft.
These tests, which began October 30, allow the X-59 team to verify that the plane's systems work well when powered by its own engine. In previous tests, the X-59 used external power sources. Testing engine operation paves the way for the next phase of the experimental aircraft's progress toward flight.
The X-59 team carries out engine operating tests in several phases. During this first phase, the engine was run at a relatively low speed, without ignition, to check for leaks and to ensure that all systems were communicating correctly. The team then fueled the aircraft and began testing the engine at low power, with the goal of verifying that the engine and other aircraft systems operate without anomalies or leaks when powered by the engine.
« The first phase of engine testing was to make sure everything was okay before running the engine said Jay Brandon, NASA's chief engineer for the X-59. “ We then proceeded to start the engine for the first time. The engine then came out of the preservation mode in which it had been since its installation on the aircraft. This was to check for the first time that it was working properly and that all the systems it was impacting – hydraulics, electrical, environmental control systems, etc. – were working properly. – seemed to work ».
The X-59 will produce a loud thud rather than a loud boom when flying at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The plane is the centerpiece of NASA's Quesst mission, which will collect data on how people perceive these noises, providing regulators with information that could help lift current bans on commercial supersonic flights in the above the earth.
The engine, a modified F414-GE-100, has 22,000 pounds of thrust, which will allow the X-59 to reach the desired cruise speed of Mach 1.4 (925 miles per hour) at an altitude of approximately 55,000 feet. The engine is installed in an unusual location, at the top of the plane, to make the X-59 quieter.
The engine tests are part of a series of integrated ground tests necessary to ensure flight safety and the achievement of mission objectives. Due to the challenges of reaching this critical phase of testing, the first flight of the X-59 is now planned for early 2025. The team will continue critical ground testing and address any issues techniques discovered with this unique experimental aircraft. The X-59 team will communicate a more precise first flight date as these tests are completed.
Testing takes place at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. In later phases, the team will test the aircraft at high power with rapid throttle changes and then simulate real flight conditions.
« The successful completion of these tests will mark the beginning of the culmination of the last eight years of my career said Paul Dees, NASA's X-59 deputy propulsion manager. “ This is not the end of the excitement, but a small step towards the beginning. It's like the first note of a symphony, where years of behind-the-scenes teamwork are now put to the test to prove that our efforts were effective, and that the notes will continue to play a harmonious song until on the fly ».
After engine operation, the X-59 team will move on to testing the aluminum bird, where data will be transmitted to the aircraft under normal conditions and in the event of a failure. The team will then carry out a series of taxi tests, during which the aircraft will be put into motion on the ground. These tests will be followed by final preparations for the first flight.
Illustration Caption: NASA's quiet X-59 supersonic research aircraft sits in its test cabin at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works factory in Palmdale, California, and fires its engine for the first time. These engine operation tests begin at low power and allow the X-59 team to verify that the aircraft's systems operate well when powered by their own engine. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA's Quesst mission, which aims to remove one of the main obstacles to land-based supersonic flight by making sonic booms quieter. Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
Source NASA – Translation Enerzine.com
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