Future supersonic passenger aircraft do not cause explosions

Advances in noise reduction technology can help passenger aircraft super-overcome limitations caused by ultrasonic explosions.

When Concorde passenger plane first appeared in the sky in the 1970s, it could fly from London, England to New York, USA within three hours. However, the development of supersonic passenger aircraft is limited by loud bangs when they exceed the speed of sound.

Recent advances in noise reduction technology, along with the price reduction of commercial flights that can make supersonic passenger aircraft possible in the next 10 years, according to Wired.

"It represents the shrinkage of the world, like previous transcontinental and non-subsonic railroads. This is also a sign that the process of reversing stagnation and slow innovation in the aviation industry for 40 years. last year , " said Samuel Hammond, researcher at George Mason University, USA.

Design of supersonic passenger plane AS2.

His research shows that technology to build supersonic planes that do not emit ultrasonic explosions is completely within reach.

"With lightweight materials, efficient engines, better computer models and more experience, we can create an aircraft that is both faster and cheaper than Concorde."

The discovery comes as technology conglomerates race to design the first supersonic civil aircraft since Concorde.

The start-up company Aerion and Spike Aerospace plan to launch the first product in 2023. In November 2015, Airbus announced it is working with Aerion to build the supersonic AS2 aircraft that can fly at 1,931. km / h. The company said its AS2 aircraft will be able to travel supersonic, allowing passengers to travel between London and New York in just three hours, and Los Angeles to Tokyo in six hours.

AS2 aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,931km / h.(Photo: Aerion).

It will fly at a maximum speed of 1,960km / h, approximately the speed of 2,170km / h of Concorde. The team claims to have completed the original design for carbon fiber wing structure, fuselage, landing gear and fuel system. The wing section reduces drag by up to 20%, allowing to reduce fuel consumption, increase flight range and equip a luxury compartment that can hold up to 12 passengers.

An important improvement is the long thin shape of the aircraft, which minimizes noise when exceeding the speed of sound. With conventional supersonic airplanes, shock waves from parts such as the nose and wings resonate into strong pressure emanating from the nose to the tail.

When this shock wave spreads through the ground, the air pressure increases sharply and then abruptly decreases, then rapidly increases, causing a "double bang" phenomenon .

Longer, slender shapes are the best way to create shock waves with a weaker intensity."We see clear and achievable technical solutions for supersonic jet design, along with a realistic roadmap for Aerion to make aircraft and test aircraft , " Airbus vice president Ken McKenzie declare.

AS2 faces competition from Spike Aerospace S-512, a model designed by a team of engineers from Boston. Both companies said their aircraft will be completed in just a few years.

The main opponent is AS2 which is the S-512 model.(Photo: Spike Aerospace).

However, Dr. Hammond points out that the aviation industry is being constrained by a ban on civilian supersonic flights across the United States set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1973. Call replacing this ban by restricting noise regulations.

"In 1973, the FAA banned civilian supersonic flight in the US, hindering the development of the aviation industry. It is time to cancel the ban to build a more reasonable and reasonable noise standard , " Hammond and conclusions colleagues.