Experimental supersonic jet will be super-quiet

Lockheed Martin announced on Friday that it has begun manufacturing the first part for the X-59 quiet supersonic technology aircraft, marking a milestone to bring supersonic commercial travel over land one step closer to reality.

The company added in a statement earlier this year that NASA selected Lockheed Martin to design, build and fly test the low boom flight demonstrator X-59 - which will conduct its first flight in 2021.

It will be used to collect community response data on the acceptability of the quiet sonic boom generated by the aircraft, helping NASA establish an acceptable commercial supersonic noise standard to overturn current regulations banning supersonic travel over land.

Watch the video above for more details.