Supersonic Flight Without The Sonic Boom

fname writes "Here's a story from Spaceflight Now about a new test aircraft that can travel at supersonic speeds without triggering a sonic boom. The technology works by modifying the shape of the plane. Although it's been believed to be possible for a long time, this is the first actual flight test, barring black box projects I suppose."

Re:Why?

[Phosphor3k]

Never lived near an airbase, eh?

Besides, would you want your military aircraft alerting everyone for miles of your presence?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

It makes it more practical to have supersonic travel in and around cities, which are notoriously noise sensitive. In the past, the routes for such planes were quite limited. Now, if the cost drops, perhaps we'll see them more in the mainstream.

Oh, and there are likely military applications, as well. Anything to reduce chances of someone hearing you coming can help (although, most times, these planes take off far from their mission).

SST possibilities

[n3xup]

Unfortunately, the article never reveals how much they have reduced the sonic boom.

But, this could be great for supersonic transports if the design technolgy is used in future designs. It would mean that we could have supersonic flights from NY to LA lasting only a couple hours! If the noise was reduced enough, the FAA would let them fly over populated areas (like the continental US)

Re:Why?

[jellomizer]

Not every technical advancement needs to be in better energy conversation. This will greatly help with noise pollution and lead to faster commercial plains in the future. Running a subsonic airplane will on the average will use less fuel then an supersonic one and supersonic plains will increase air pollution. But at least it is not making every bison in the midwest going deaf after a bunch of booms that break their eardrums. Sometimes the need for speed is more important then fuel consumption. (Think about an ability to quickly transport a Heart of Liver from a downer in CA to NY much quicker. Heck if I was that Guy In NY I would love to have it flying to me at supersonic speeds compared to subsonic.

Re:Real Estate Bargains

[temojen]

And it doesn't effect engine noise, which is what you experience when the planes are taking off and landing.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anything to reduce chances of someone hearing you coming can help

Hmmm, I think the likelyhood of someone hearing you coming is already pretty small IF YOU'RE TRAVELLING FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.

Re:It doesn't elimanate the boom...

[Anonymous Coward]

Please please enlighten me on how reducing loudness = no sonic boom?
Gay. Gay. Gay.

Explain again why you need to use "gay" as a derogatory term?

Re:Guns?

[Anonymous Coward]

If modifying the shape of the bullet is a problem (for example if it can wobble around in the barrel as it slides out) they could add a jacket to it that peels off after it leaves the barrel revealing the optomized shape. I know they already do this for flachet rounds.
In reality, there are probably more important characteristics to design the shape of the bullet around than how much noise it makes
I dont think silencers slow the bullet down any signifigant ammount, they just capture the hot gas leaving the barrel behind the bullet and release it slowly.

no.

[twitter]

So, when can we throw out the Concord and whatnot and get transcontinental supersonic flight to boot?

You don't need to throw it out, it just needs a nose job. Witness:

• before [navy.mil]
• after [spaceflightnow.com]

Honk, honk!

You only want to throw the thing out when maintaining it costs more than developing and buying a new one. While it might be hard to modify the concord's swiveling nose this way, it's worth looking into.

The next modification needed is to the law, so that flights that don't make too much noise can fly over the contenetal US. If you can get from New York to California supersonically, people will want to do it and will pay for the above mentioned development and building.

offtopic: gay

[PurpleBob]

Please please enlighten me on how reducing loudness = no sonic boom?
Gay. Gay. Gay.

Was it entirely necessary to bring your rebuttal down to a middle-school level, by including that last line?

Re:Why?

[Waffle Iron]

As I explained above, it would be much more than double the price.

People who would pay this price are already saving more time end-to-end than an SST airliner would save. They do it by flying private business jets on their own schedule between small airports which are uncongested and near their destinations.

Re:Summary misleading

[timeOday]

Airplanes make plenty of noise even without the boom, so silience it isn't necessary. If it's enough to make supersonic flight over populated areas acceptable to people, the mission is accomplished. Noise is what really prevents supersonic passenger planes.

It seems to me...

[luckyguesser]

It seems to me that this is the way that ultrasonic planes should have been built in the first place. The concept is so simple that I knew what the whole article would be about after I read the title of the summary.

Re:Why?

[Maniakes]

The great circle route from Seattle to London passes over the North Pole, and need never cross land. Why didn't Concorde ever fly that route?

I'll give you a hint. What else travels supersonically and flies over the pole?

Give up? [fas.org]

No commercial flights went over the pole until 2000 [cnn.com].