Nasa unveils quiet supersonic aircraft in effort to revive commercial flights

[muriel_volestrangler]

In a joint ceremony with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, on Friday, Nasa revealed the X-59, an experimental aircraft that is expected to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound – or 925mph (1,488 km/h).

The aircraft, which stands at 99.7ft (30.4 metres) long and 29.5ft wide, has a thin, tapered nose that comprises nearly a third of the aircraft’s full length – a feature designed to disperse shock waves that would typically surround supersonic aircraft and result in sonic booms.

In attempts to further enhance the aircraft’s supersonic capabilities, engineers positioned the cockpit almost halfway down the length and removed the forward-facing windows typically found in other aircraft.
...
The aircraft also features an engine mounted on top as well as a smooth underside to prevent shock waves from forming behind the aircraft and causing sonic booms.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/12/nasa-lockheed-martin-reveal-x-59-quiet-supersonic-aircraft

Interesting - the idea seems to be to eliminate as many features as possible that can generate shock waves. They will test over cities to see what people think of the "soft thump" it should produce.

[NNadir]

1. I flew on the Concorde three times. Looking back, the aircraft was a bad idea.

I flew in it twice to France, once to the United States. Air France couldn't fill the seats at the ridiculous price, and so they offered Americans flying business class a one way upgrade.

It made me think I was pretty cool.

The cabin was the size of a bus, and if there was anything remarkable, it basically was involved with the altitude; one could see the curvature of the Earth quite clearly out the window, but of course that altitude had profound environmental problems associated with it. It was

Flying it to France sucked. One left JFK in the early afternoon EST around 1 and arrived three and a half hours later in Paris. By the time one got one's luggage and through customs, and a cab to a hotel it was around midnight because of the time difference.

It was, biologically, however early evening. For an insomniac, this is a disaster, jet lag supreme.

Coming back to the US, it was OK, since one had the feeling of arriving before one left, but the real issue had nothing to do with any of this.

The real problem was environmental. Happily the aircraft was largely an economic failure, because if there had been a huge fleet of them, one shutters to think of the environmental consequences.

I hope this idea withers.

[progressoid]

2. to revive commercial flights?

Haven't we been setting records for commercial air travel?

[OnlinePoker]

5. I think they're referring to supersonic commercial flights. Poor title by Guardian. n/t

[3825-87867]

3. There was an effort to land these near Pittsburgh

back in the day...at Greater Pittsburgh Airport which was one of a few "inland" sites that the Concorde could actually land at the time.
They even had commercials trying to convince people of the advantages (Pgh had a lot of international businesses then). But when questioned about the noise, the ads stated that it was "only 20 db more than a 707 landing or taking off."
Might have even worked had not an environmental group explained that the db (decibel) rating was logarithmic rather than linear. An increase in 10 db doubles the sound. 20 db is 100 times more. So, when the residents discovered one operating Concorde would make as much noise as about 100 707s taking off or landing, the idea was scrapped.

[Chainfire]

4. Another great program that will benefit working and poor Americans everwhere.

[Martin Eden]

7. Cost needs to be justified by need

In principle, government funding for scientific and technological progress makes sense.

However, supersonic commercial transportation benefits only the few who can afford it. Saving a few hours of flight time is, in the vast majority of circumstances, an indulgent luxury.

If there is a profit to be made, let commercial interests foot the R&D bill for such an inherently unnecessary venture.

Too many public transportation needs lack sufficient government funding.

[Chainfire]

8. Really, I would just like to have bus service and high speed internet.

[Wonder Why]

6. Does it come with an optional panel instead of another door?