NASA begins work to build a quieter supersonic passenger jet

[jpak]

Source: Phys.Org

The return of supersonic passenger air travel is one step closer to reality with NASA's award of a contract for the preliminary design of a "low boom" flight demonstration aircraft. This is the first in a series of 'X-planes' in NASA's New Aviation Horizons initiative, introduced in the agency's Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced the award at an event Monday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

"NASA is working hard to make flight greener, safer and quieter – all while developing aircraft that travel faster, and building an aviation system that operates more efficiently," said Bolden. "To that end, it's worth noting that it's been almost 70 years since Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 as part of our predecessor agency's high speed research. Now we're continuing that supersonic X-plane legacy with this preliminary design award for a quieter supersonic jet with an aim toward passenger flight."

NASA selected a team led by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Palmdale, California, to complete a preliminary design for Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST). The work will be conducted under a task order against the Basic and Applied Aerospace Research and Technology (BAART) contract at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.


Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-nasa-quieter-supersonic-passenger-jet.html#jCp

Read more: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-nasa-quieter-supersonic-passenger-jet.html

[djean111]

1. In the '90s, I was flying to Europe, and I was sitting next to an engineer from GE.

There was the usual droning white noise. He told me that it was certainly possible to almost totally get rid of the noise - but tests showed that no one liked that. It would be the same as sitting in a crowded restaurant with tin ceilings - a cacophony of conversation. Most unpleasant. And - and I have to say he is correct, because this happened to me, flying in a small plane - the drone of the engines is quite comforting. It is when they stop that people get nervous. And no one wants to ride in an airplane full of nervous people, all talking over each other, every sniffle and cough audible.

[Tab]

2. Interesting article and interesting observation

I know that (aside from warning pedestrians) super quiet cars make me nervous. I have (as a fun car) a 1978, and the sound of the engine is one of the most enjoyable things; certainly I know from it that if it's not firing right or making no noise something's really wrong. Even in one of my regular cars, I like the fan or music or something on, because otherwise the conversation (assuming I'm not alone) can radiate.

However, in a plane you could put in some sound dampening material so shit doesn't echo all over. That aside, I agree - people like to hear the engines because they know it's "working". I'd be kind of stressed if it was absolutely quiet too.

[strategery blunder]

5. The issue with supersonic travel isn't so much the noise inside the cabin; it's the noise outside.

Because sonic booms are loud. They're so loud that when the Concorde was in service, it was required to fly at subsonic speeds over land. The pilots had to get the aircraft over open ocean before they were allowed to accelerate to the supersonic cruising speed.

That restriction played a part in making the aircraft uneconomical (the other major factors being fuel cost, low capacity, and the safety challenges that came to light as the fleet aged). The Concorde pretty much only flew transatlantic prestige routes, and it was not profitable.

If SST becomes a thing again, it is prudent to dampen the sonic boom noise generated outside the cabin, if reasonably possible. That's what NASA is researching.

[djean111]

6. Ah, thanks for the explanation!

Dampening a sonic boom seems like a very difficult task.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. It's good NASA is considering the desires of the rich vs. the needs of the many

If they want to work on supersonic stuff, then develop a supersonic business jet. But don't forget those of us stuck in coach class. It's possible to make a sonic cruiser which flies almost the speed of sound but carries a lot more passengers than an SST.

[Blue_Tires]

4. k+r

[jmowreader]

7. Shouldn't we finish updating the ATC system first?