NASA Adds Two Retired F-15s to Boost Supersonic Research for X-59 Program

Overview

• NASA confirmed two retired U.S. Air Force F-15s have joined its Armstrong Flight Research Center fleet to support the Quesst mission.
• One jet will be restored as an active research aircraft, while the second will be used for spare parts to sustain long-term operations.
• The aircraft were transferred from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing and arrived at Edwards on December 22, 2025.
• NASA plans software, systems, and flight-control modifications and will outfit the platform for external instrumentation and experiments.
• The added capacity enables chase-plane and data-collection support near 60,000 feet and will facilitate renewed operations with other agencies and commercial aviation partners.