MicroWaveJan 13, 2024

Nasa unveils quiet supersonic aircraft in effort to revive commercial flights

https://lemmy.world/post/10656840

Nasa unveils quiet supersonic aircraft in effort to revive commercial flights - Lemmy.World

In launch event on Friday, agency shared plans to test over US cities to see if it’s quiet enough by engaging ‘the people below’ Nasa has unveiled a one-of-a-kind quiet supersonic aircraft as part of the US space agency’s mission to make commercial supersonic flight possible. 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.

Show threadNougatJan 13, 2024
This design may minimize the sonic boom, but that boom cannot be eliminated. "Artist's impression" image shows ... absolutely no room for passengers. This is a design test aircraft focused solely on minimizing shockwave noise. Any passenger plane based on this design is going to be very low capacity, and wholly unable to pull up to a jet bridge at any airport.
NASA to unveil X-59 supersonic plane that makes a 'sonic thump'

The experimental X-59 aircraft is designed to break the sound barrier without making the startling booms produced by current supersonic planes

New Scientist
Show threadJohnDClayJan 13, 2024
This is a technology demonstrator to understand the acoustics of sonic booms. Passenger versions would likely look very different, just incorporating the information gathered from this project.
Show threadNougatJan 13, 2024
Why, that is exactly what I said!
Show thread4am
No, you said it wouldn’t work as a passenger aircraft. You sound like a naysayer.
Jan 13, 2024 at 4:00pmWeb
Show threadNougatJan 13, 2024

No, you said it wouldn’t work as a passenger aircraft.

I said no such thing. What I said was:

Any passenger plane based on this design is going to be very low capacity, and wholly unable to pull up to a jet bridge at any airport.

Show threadeskimofryJan 14, 2024
Actually, a lot of people including me would naysay even if it is viable. Because this stuff is for rich wankers who don’t need another excuse to burn down planet earth in their search for the next money making scheme.