A peculiar jet with the nose of an anteater, parts sourced from other aircraft, and a cockpit positioned so far back that the pilot relies on a camera to navigate is flying over the US. This aircraft, the X-59, is being developed by NASA to address the issue of sonic booms, which previously limited supersonic travel over land. The X-59’s elongated snout is designed to flatten these shockwaves into more tolerable sounds. The X-59 is part of a lineage of experimental NASA aircraft dating back to 1947, beginning with the Bell X-1, which was the first plane to break the sound barrier in 1947. The X-1 was shaped like a bullet with wings added, while the X-15 rocket plane, which flew to 6.7 times the speed of sound, paved the way for heat-resistant materials used in the Space Shuttle. The X-59, assembled by Lockheed Martin, incorporates components from various aircraft, including a cockpit and ejector seat from a T-38 training jet, landing gear from an F-16, and an engine from the F-18. It first flew in 2025 and is now breaking the sound barrier over selected US towns. NASA is conducting community surveys to assess public acceptance of the modified sonic booms. Peter Coen, a NASA veteran managing the program, states that the X-59’s goal is to suppress sonic booms on a budget. While NASA considered an unmanned version of the X-59, the decision to keep it crewed was influenced by the need for certification and the requirement for the aircraft to resemble an airliner. Drones have been used in conflicts such as Ukraine's war against Russia, but Guy Gratton, a professor at Cranfield University, argues that human pilots are still necessary for testing and identifying critical lessons. The UK has its own technology testbeds, such as the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP), which tested core systems for the Typhoon fighter. Chris Yeo, who piloted the EAP, notes the shared heritage with X-planes. A new UK technology demonstrator, described by Tony Godbold of BAE Systems as "the X-plane of our generation," is being developed to test ideas for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a fighter expected to fly in the 2030s. The demonstrator will use engines from the existing Typhoon and is set to fly in 2028. Godbold states that the project underscores the UK's commitment to GCAP, a joint effort with Italy and Japan. The human element in flight testing remains significant, as test pilots provide crucial feedback that cannot be fully replicated by computers or simulators.