NASA Chief Touts X-59 Progress at NBAA-BACE | Aviation International News

NBAA-BACE 2026

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NASA Chief Touts X-59 Progress at NBAA-BACE

Jared Isaacman says test data is ‘extremely encouraging’ so far

Former NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt (left) and NASA administrator Jared Isaacman — Former NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt (left) and NASA administrator Jared Isaacman talk space race and supersonic flight. © Mariano Rosales/AIN

By Hanneke Weitering • Science & Technology Editor

October 20, 2026

Quiet supersonic flight and a moon race with China took center stage on Tuesday morning at the NBAA-BACE opening session. In a fireside chat with former space shuttle commander Charlie Precourt, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said flight testing of the X-59 supersonic noise demonstrator is going better than expected.

Both men are longtime business jet pilots. Isaacman, who has logged more than 8,000 flight hours, set a round-the-world speed record for light jets in a Cessna Citation CJ2 in 2009 and co-founded adversary air training company Draken International. Precourt, a four-time space shuttle astronaut and NBAA board member, has more than 11,000 hours in more than 90 aircraft types, holds type ratings in several Citations, and chairs the Citation Jet Pilots Association’s safety committee.

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