David Nils Larson is NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s senior advisor for aero flight research and lead pilot for the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (Quesst) aircraft.
Larson has flown more than 100 different aircraft types and he hails from West Virginia, the same state as Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier in October 1947 in the Bell X-1.
Quesst is researching technology that will reduce the loudness of a sonic boom to a gentle ‘thump’ and eventually aims to fly the aircraft over US urban communities to gather data on human responses to the sound it generates.
Q Where are you with starting flight testing of the X-59?
We are projected to start the first phase of flight tests in early 2023. Right now, we are doing system checkout and ground tests, to include integration and taxi tests, then [project partner] Lockheed Martin will get to take her up first.
Q What work is required before you fly the X-59 over communities?
Our first phase is envelope expansion, to make sure the aircraft is safe. We’ll start with several hundred hours in the simulator and ground test, taxi test and then the flight test – just like any other plane. We will look at the loads/strength, max speeds, handing and flying qualities, avionics fun…
