NASA has made significant strides in developing quiet supersonic jets, potentially revolutionizing commercial air travel. This week, a new aircraft designed to minimize noise completed its inaugural flight over the southern California desert, marking a crucial milestone in the pursuit of faster travel.
The test flight, conducted in partnership with Lockheed Martin, took place early Tuesday morning. The jet is engineered to fly at speeds exceeding that of sound while producing what Lockheed Martin describes as merely a “gentle thump,” rather than the disruptive sonic booms associated with traditional supersonic jets. This achievement could pave the way for regulatory changes, enabling supersonic flights over land in the United States.
Supersonic flight has been technically feasible since the 1940s; however, widespread commercial use has been hampered due to noise complaints from residents living in areas affected by sonic booms. The Concorde, which operated transatlantic flights from the 1970s until its retirement in 2003, faced similar challenges, leading to its eventual discontinuation after a tragic accident diminished public demand.
If successful, the new jets could significantly reduce travel times, allowing flights such as those between New York City and Los Angeles to take as little as half the current duration. This would not only benefit passengers but could also lead to the emergence of a new sector within the aviation industry.
The recent flight test, while still slower than the speed of sound, was primarily focused on assessing the aircraft”s structural integrity. The X-59, a compact 100-foot plane, took off from the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale and successfully landed at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, approximately 40 miles away.
Historically, the first aircraft to surpass the speed of sound achieved this feat in 1947. However, due to public outcry regarding the noise generated by these flights, regulations were quickly enacted to prohibit supersonic travel over land. NASA and Lockheed Martin have dedicated years to addressing these noise concerns, a crucial step toward making commercial supersonic travel a reality in the United States.
