NASA Unveils New Aircraft Fleet as Part of Supersonic Flight Research
In a major upgrade to its flight research capabilities, NASA has added two retired F-15 jets to its fleet at the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The aircraft, previously used by the US Air Force, are now transitioning from military service to support breakthrough advancements in aerospace research.
The new F-15s will play a crucial role in supporting supersonic flight research for NASA's Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project, including testing for the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. One of the planes will be flown actively by NASA researchers as part of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, while the second aircraft will be repurposed to supply parts to support long-term fleet sustainment.
According to Troy Asher, director for flight operations at NASA Armstrong, the two F-15s will enable successful data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 through the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project. They will also allow NASA to resume operations with various external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.
The aircraft were previously flown by the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field before being transferred to NASA Armstrong on December 22, 2025. The addition of these two F-15s marks a significant milestone in NASA's commitment to advancing high-speed flight research, building on decades of experience with the aircraft.
The F-15s' unique capabilities make them an ideal choice for flight research at NASA Armstrong. They can carry experimental hardware externally and can be modified to support flight research, allowing researchers to install instruments and experiments that would not fit beneath other aircraft. The planes also offer a significant ground clearance, enabling researchers to test equipment in environments that are difficult or impossible to access with standard aircraft.
NASA has already been operating two F-15s modified to enable safe operations at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet, the top of the flight envelope for the X-59. The new aircraft will receive similar modifications, allowing them to operate safely at even higher altitudes – a key requirement for supersonic flight research.
With these additions, NASA is poised to continue supporting advanced aeronautics research and partnerships in the years to come.
In a major upgrade to its flight research capabilities, NASA has added two retired F-15 jets to its fleet at the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The aircraft, previously used by the US Air Force, are now transitioning from military service to support breakthrough advancements in aerospace research.
The new F-15s will play a crucial role in supporting supersonic flight research for NASA's Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project, including testing for the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. One of the planes will be flown actively by NASA researchers as part of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project, while the second aircraft will be repurposed to supply parts to support long-term fleet sustainment.
According to Troy Asher, director for flight operations at NASA Armstrong, the two F-15s will enable successful data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 through the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project. They will also allow NASA to resume operations with various external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.
The aircraft were previously flown by the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field before being transferred to NASA Armstrong on December 22, 2025. The addition of these two F-15s marks a significant milestone in NASA's commitment to advancing high-speed flight research, building on decades of experience with the aircraft.
The F-15s' unique capabilities make them an ideal choice for flight research at NASA Armstrong. They can carry experimental hardware externally and can be modified to support flight research, allowing researchers to install instruments and experiments that would not fit beneath other aircraft. The planes also offer a significant ground clearance, enabling researchers to test equipment in environments that are difficult or impossible to access with standard aircraft.
NASA has already been operating two F-15s modified to enable safe operations at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet, the top of the flight envelope for the X-59. The new aircraft will receive similar modifications, allowing them to operate safely at even higher altitudes – a key requirement for supersonic flight research.
With these additions, NASA is poised to continue supporting advanced aeronautics research and partnerships in the years to come.
theyre going to be used for supersonic flight research which is literally a game changer for aviation imo. its amazing how nasa is able to get these old planes and breathe new life into them to support their cutting edge research. the fact that they can carry experimental hardware externally and modify them to operate at high altitudes makes them an ideal choice for this project. plus, it shows nasa's commitment to advancing high-speed flight research which is something we should all be excited about 
they're gonna support supersonic flight research which is like super cool 
nasa's been working on it for ages now & these new planes are gonna help them collect more data & work with other partners like military & commercial aviation companies 
the best part is they can carry all this experimental hardware externally which is like a dream come true for researchers 
imagine being able to travel at mach 1 without making a huge mess 
anyway, it's awesome that they're giving old planes a new lease on life and using their unique capabilities to help us learn more about aerodynamics 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to test supersonic flight at 60,000 feet? It's like something straight out of a superhero movie 
. And the fact that they'll be able to carry all sorts of experimental hardware externally is just mind-blowing 
. As a parent, it's amazing to think about what my kids will learn from these advancements and how it'll shape their future 
. Can't wait to see what other cool stuff NASA comes up with next 
for supersonic flight research! i mean think about it, these planes used to fly combat missions but now they're gonna be flying at breakneck speeds and collecting data that's gonna change the game 
. those f-15s have some serious capabilities - can carry experimental hardware externally and can be modified for flight research 
. plus, they got that sweet ground clearance 
which is gonna allow researchers to test equipment in environments that are super hard to access.
. can't wait to see where these additions take nasa's research and partnerships 
NASA just upgraded their aircraft fleet with 2 retired F-15 jets 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that they get to carry external hardware and modify them for flight research? It's like, a whole new level of customization 
. Having a fleet of retired F-15s on board will definitely give them an edge when it comes to testing supersonic flight capabilities. The fact that they can carry experimental hardware externally and have a significant ground clearance is a huge plus for researchers. It's also interesting to see how NASA is looking to utilize partnerships with external companies, like the Department of War and commercial aviation firms. This could lead to some exciting breakthroughs in aerospace research 
and its awesome that they'll be supporting the x-59 quiet supersonic project which aims to make supersonic flight a reality again 
the fact that they can carry external hardware and operate at high altitudes is just mind blown 
. It's going to be awesome to see what kind of breakthroughs come out of this project! 
I'm also loving the detail about the ground clearance – it's amazing how much of a difference that can make in certain environments 
. Bring on the supersonic flight research and let's get ready for some mind-blowing advancements! 
theyre gonna be used for supersonic flight research which sounds so cool! the idea of having planes that can fly at like 60,000 feet is mind-blowing. and the fact that they can carry experimental hardware externally is genius. i wish i could attend some of these experiments 
so they're taking old military jets and turning them into science toys 
but hey, at least it'll be fun to watch the F-15s do their thing... and also collect data for science 
they have super cool features like being able to carry external hardware and having tons of ground clearance which is perfect for testing equipment in hard-to-reach places 
! With this addition, it's clear that NASA is committed to advancing high-speed flight research and building on decades of experience with the F-15.
so nasa just got some old f-15s and now they're gonna do supersonic flight research lol 
and they can even carry weird experiments externally 
