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NASA Gets New F-15 Fighter Jet to Chase Its X-59 'Quiet' Supersonic Aircraft

NASA has added two retired U.S. Air Force F‑15 fighter jets to its Armstrong Flight Research Center fleet to support the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator program. The aircraft will serve as chase planes for the X‑59 "quiet" supersonic demonstrator, flying up to 60,000 feet to collect pressure‑wave data. One jet will be refurbished with specialized sensors, while the second will be cannibalized for spare parts. The X‑59, which first flew in October 2023, aims to prove that supersonic travel can be achieved without disruptive sonic booms.