NASA Enlists Mike Lippert to Fly the X-59

NASA has appointed Mike Lippert as a research test pilot for the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft, expanding the core flight crew supporting the agency’s Quesst mission. Lippert, based at Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, will fly the X-59 itself as well as F-15 and F-18 chase planes that monitor the experimental jet during flight.

He joins Nils Larson and Jim “Clue” Less, who have been piloting the X-59 since its first flight in October 2025. Lippert’s aviation background includes 20 years in the US Marine Corps, over 2,600 flight hours across 60 aircraft types, and operational experience on the AV-8B Harrier and F-35 test programmes. He is also an aerospace engineer pursuing a doctorate in high-speed gas dynamics.

Lippert is currently flying training sorties in support aircraft and working in the X-59 simulator, with his first flight at the controls of the X-plane expected later this summer.

What a Third Test Pilot Means for the Quesst Mission

What Mike Lippert’s Arrival Means for the Programme

The addition of a third pilot is a practical indicator that the X-59 flight test campaign is moving from initial envelope expansion toward a broader, more frequent data-gathering phase. Having multiple qualified pilots allows the team to sustain a heavier flight schedule and reduces downtime from crew rest or training demands—an important factor as NASA prepares for community overflight studies that will collect the noise perception data needed to support a change in regulations banning commercial supersonic flight over land.

Lippert’s specific background in high-speed gas dynamics and hypersonic fluid mechanics, alongside hands-on F-35 test experience, also brings a fresh perspective to the mission’s engineering feedback loops. While the appointment does not change the mission’s public timeline, it de-risks pilot availability and underscores the shift toward an operational tempo that the earlier, smaller crew could not have sustained alone.

Next Steps for the X-59 and Quiet Supersonic Flight

For those tracking the X-59 programme, the expanded cockpit roster signals that the most data-intensive portion of Quesst—the planned overflight tests above select communities—is drawing closer. Key milestones to watch include the first Lippert pilot sortie later this summer, the onset of en-route supersonic flight validation, and subsequent public noise surveys that will inform potential regulatory revisions by the FAA and international bodies. No immediate changes are expected for the aerospace supply chain or commercial operators, but the programme’s progress remains a bellwether for the eventual return of overland supersonic civil travel.