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X-59

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

PAPER DESKTOP MODEL

FLIGHT LOG

ENDORSEMENT 

CODE

PPDTM59
X-59

NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft is designed to fly 

faster than the speed of sound and is being used 

to help open a new era of commercial supersonic 

air travel over land. Instead of the loud sonic boom 

produced by other supersonic aircraft, its unique 

shape will change shockwaves that come from the 

aircraft, resulting in a more gentle sonic “thump.” 

Shockwaves are sharp changes in air pressure 

caused by an object moving faster than the speed of 

sound, which is approximately 660 mph at sea level. 

The X-59 research aircraft will be used to conduct 

a series of flights over several communities around 

the United States to learn what residents think 

about the aircraft’s sonic thump. NASA will give 

that information and other data to regulators to help 

change the rules that currently ban supersonic flight 

over land.

NASA contracted Lockheed Martin Aeronautics 

Company to design, build, and conduct initial flight 

testing of the X-59 at its Skunk Works factory in 

Palmdale, CA. The single-seat X-59 is 99.7 feet 

long, 29.6 feet wide, and will cruise at an altitude of 

55,000 feet while moving at a speed of Mach 1.4, or 

925 mph.

All four of NASA’s aeronautics field centers, working 

together with partners in government, industry, and 

academia, are pulling together to enable a new era 

in aviation. 

X-59 Desktop Model Instructions

Materials Required: scissors, utility knife, glue, cutout sheets, pencil

For curves, wrap the paper around a pencil or roll on the edge of a desk. 

Only score and fold along dashed lines.

For online printing, cardstock is recommended.

If you are participating in NASA’s Flight Log Experience, enter the code on the cover of these instructions to 

earn an X-59 endorsement stamp. The Flight Log can be found at www.nasa.gov/flightlog.

For this and other hands-on X-59 building activities, go to our X-59 Maker Bundle: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/

default/files/atoms/files/x-59-maker-bundle-v8.pdf.

Illustration Credits: Lockheed Martin

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© DiskArtTM 1988

© DiskArtTM 1988

1. Cut out all parts by following the 

outermost line of each piece.

2. Score along dotted lines on PART 1.

3. Fold PART 1 as shown, and glue the 

tab on the right side.

4. Score on the dotted line on PART 2.

5. Roll Part 2 into a cylinder (using a pencil, 

wrap it around to get the cylinder shape, 

then remove the pencil). 

6. Glue it to itself using the tab. 

7. Line up with the edge of PART 1 and glue 

down.

8. Score on the dotted lines on PART 3.

9. Using a utility knife, cut a slit along the 

line on PART 3.

10. Fold PART 3 using all the guide lines 

printed on the paper, then roll the 

lower half into a cone.

11. Glue the top wing together as well as 

the tab.

12. Glue the circular edges of PART 2

and PART 3 together.

13. Score and fold PART 4 in half along the 

fold line and glue together.

14. Insert into the slit created in step 9

and glue in place.

15. Cut the slits on either side with a 

utility knife.

16. Score on the dotted lines.

17. Curl PART 5 into a cone.

18. Fold the tip first, and glue it together.

19. Glue along the tab and join.

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STEP 9

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20. Score on the dotted lines and fold 

the two PART 6’s along the fold 

line, and glue each of them to 

themselves.

21. Insert each into their respective 

slits, and glue them in place.

22. Score on the dotted lines and fold 

PART 7 as shown.

23. Remember to fold curves on some-

thing round like a pencil or on the 

edge of a desk.

24. Line up the wings of PART 7 and 

PART 8 and glue together. This will 

leave a semicircle on the bottom 

that is not glued to anything. Be 

sure the printed side is down on 

PART 7 and visible from below.

25. Do not glue the entire wing, just the 

edges so it does not wrinkle.

26. Score on dotted lines and fold 

PART 9 as shown. Designs should 

be visible from top.

27. Like step 24, line up the wings of 

PART 8 and PART 9.

28. Glue the edges of the wings together.

29. Glue the two assemblies together.
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© DiskArtTM 1988

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30. Cut side slits and triangle shape 

on PART 10.

31. Score on the dotted lines and 

fold in on dotted lines to 

create a cockpit.

32. Tuck in sides to cover the open 

triangle shapes.

33. Glue PART 10 onto PART 9.

34. Stick the nose over the rest of 

the plane, and glue together. If it 

does not fit, bend in the body of 

the plane so that the nose will fit 

over it.

35. Final assembled piece.
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© DiskArtTM 1988
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NP-2021-11-3001-HQ

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Headquarters

300 E. Street, SW

Washington, DC 20546