A fact box explaining why Concordes were retired in 2003, highlighting issues with sonic booms, high costs, and a major crash in 2000 that led to mandatory safety upgrades and reduced passenger bookings.
    A large aircraft under construction in a spacious factory. Workers and equipment are present around the partially assembled plane. The view is from above, showcasing the detailed interior framework.
    NASA’s X-59 aircraft has been under construction at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works since 2018. This photo from August 2021 shows the nose and tail being installed. The nose was later removed for transport to Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility for stress tests. Lockheed Martin returned the noseless fuselage to Skunk Works in April. Credit: Lockheed Martin, NASA/Lauren Hughes
    A white Concorde jet with British Airways livery on the tarmac, captured from a low angle, with a cloudy sky in the background.
    Designers of the Concordes and NASA’s X-59 needed their aircraft to have elongated noses, but this raised the question of how the pilots would see what’s ahead during takeoff and landings. Concorde’s designers came up with a nose that drooped when necessary, shown here, while X-59 solves the problem with cameras and an augmented reality display.
    An image highlighting the new and refurbished components used in the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' X-59 aircraft, sourced from various aircraft including the F-35, F-16, F-18, T-38, Saab JAS 39E, and F-117.
    Text on a graphic about engine trouble with Rolls-Royce discontinuing its partnership with Boom Supersonic for Overture's propulsor system, highlighting commercial viability and future plans.
    Diagram of the NASA X-59 jet, highlighting features designed to minimize sonic booms: T-tail, V nose, GE F414 engine, fuselage shape, main wing, and canards for stability and quiet supersonic flight.
    Demo