NASA's ambitious project to develop a quiet supersonic jet, dubbed the "son of Concorde," is one step closer to becoming a reality, potentially revolutionizing transatlantic travel. The aircraft, known as the X-59, aims to fly at speeds faster than the speed of sound, nearly doubling the Concorde's velocity.

With the goal of reducing the disruptive sonic boom to a mere "sonic thump," NASA has identified approximately fifty established inter-city routes that could benefit from this technological advancement. The most notable among them is the route connecting New York City and London, where travel times could be slashed to just 1.5 hours, a fourfold improvement over current options.

Although the X-59 is currently undergoing final preparations at the Lockheed Martin facility in Palmdale, California, its potential impact is already generating excitement. Cathy Bahm, the project manager for the low boom flight demonstrator, expressed her anticipation for the aircraft's emergence from the paint barn, symbolizing the realization of their vision.

As part of NASA's Quesst mission, the X-59 will be flown over selected U.S. communities to gather data on public perception of its noise levels. This data will be crucial in persuading regulators to reconsider existing rules that prohibit supersonic flight over land.

The development of supersonic passenger air travel has been a subject of interest for NASA, envisioning aircraft capable of reaching speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 4. The Concorde, which previously held the title for the fastest commercial airliner, cruised at a maximum speed of Mach 2.04.

The imminent progress of the X-59 brings hope for a future where transatlantic travel becomes faster, more accessible, and less disruptive, potentially revolutionizing the way we explore the world.