Matthew Nelson
Lockheed Martin has tapped Collins Aerospace to deliver environmental control systems and other equipment for the development of a NASA supersonic aircraft which will be utilized to investigate the possibility of supersonic commercial air travel.
Collins Aerospace said Monday the ECS, which is comprised of air conditioning, cockpit pressure control and engine bleed air systems, will help the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology aircraft sustain pressure and temperature levels as it reaches flight speeds beyond Mach 1.
The X-59 aircraft is designed to reach an altitude levels of 55K feet at 940 miles per hour, while commercial planes typically fly at 35K feet and 560 miles per hour.
Data about the noise levels of the X-59 before flight will be gathered and analyzed, possibly to be used as evidence to change laws that currently prohibit aircraft to travel at supersonic levels of speed over land.
Collins Aerospace will also provide equipment as ailerons, flaps, rudder and flight control surfaces for the aircraft.
Lockheed also previously selected Collins Aerospace to produce an avionics system and touchscreen flight displays for the supersonic aircraft, making the latest award Collins Aerospace’s third contract for the X-59.
