Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, has completed a full renovation of a hangar originally built in 1968 to house the X-59 supersonic aircraft. Upgrades include new electrical wiring, a fire suppression system, office spaces, air conditioning, and other safety features, preparing the hangar for the advanced needs of the X-plane program.
The X-59, first flown by NASA test pilot Nils Larson on October 28, 2025, moved to this modernized hangar after assembly in Palmdale, California. The hangar, designated Building 4826, was chosen for its capacity to fully accommodate the nearly 100-foot-long, 30-foot-wide experimental aircraft, protecting it from the elements. The renovation involved stripping the structure to its steel framework before rebuilding it for current use.
The hangar’s floor covers more than 32,000 square feet and is coated with epoxy to prevent spills from seeping into the concrete. Office windows overlook the interior, allowing personnel to observe F-15 research jets that will serve as chase planes during upcoming X-59 test flights. Despite supply chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the renovation was completed to support the X-59 flight program and NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to enable commercial supersonic flight over land with reduced sonic boom noise.