NASA, Lockheed Martin to build 'quiet' jet for supersonic air travel

WASHINGTON — NASA has cleared the final assembly of Lockheed Martin's quiet supersonic jet prototype, the agency says in a news release on Tuesday.Lockheed Martin says that X-59 aircraft will be a model for quiet, faster-than-sound passenger jets.Lockheed Martin states that the X-59 will be able to cruise at an altitude of 55,000 feet and achieve an airspeed of 940 miles per hour.The corporation claims technology derived from the jet will cut air travel time by half.According to NASA, the X-59's shape is specially designed to mitigate sonic boom by reducing the noise that reaches the ground.Lockheed Martin says that the airplane makes 75 Perceived Level decibels, or about as loud as a closing car door.According to NASA, the jet will feature cameras and sensors that allow safe flying without a forward-facing window.NASA says the finished jet will fly over select US communities to create instrument readings and to measure the public's opinion.