NASA's top performers may earn a supersonic jet reward from Jared Isaacman

NASA's top performers could soon get a high-speed reward—thanks to a private offer from entrepreneur and pilot Jared Isaacman. The founder of Shift4 Payments has pledged to let exceptional NASA employees experience flights in his Northrop F-5 Tiger II jet, a supersonic aircraft capable of reaching Mach 1.6.

Isaacman, who also holds a role as a NASA administrator, will cover all costs of the flights himself. No taxpayer money will be used for the initiative. According to NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens, the jet will be part of workforce incentives, celebratory flyovers, and events marking America's 250th birthday in 2026.

The F-5 Tiger II is no ordinary aircraft. With a top speed of Mach 1.6, it far outpaces most civilian planes. Isaacman, an experienced aviator with over 8,000 flight hours, has flown everything from military jets to commercial aircraft. In 2009, he even set a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a light jet.

While the offer stands, no official NASA employees have yet been selected or flown in the jet. The programme remains in its early stages, with details still being finalised.

The flights aim to motivate NASA's workforce and inspire future generations in STEM fields. Isaacman's privately funded initiative will provide a rare opportunity for top agency contributors to experience supersonic flight. The exact criteria for selection and timing of the flights have not yet been announced.