Supersonic flight is making a comeback decades after the Concorde. But one big hurdle remains

Now, some 50 years on from the ban, a new era of supersonic flight seems within reach. After several delays, the X-59 flew for the first time in late 2025 and then achieved its first supersonic flight in June. However, he added, the new FAA rules and Mach cutoff create an opportunity to reintroduce supersonic flight. “I think that’s a very important step towards broader adoption of supersonic flight,” Coen said. I’ve heard a bunch of sonic booms, and the vast majority are no big deal,” he said.