NASA claims that this supersonic jet will reduce the flight time between New York and London to less than an hour and a half. Here are all the details on the aircraft of the future.
NASA is designing a supersonic airliner that would have a top speed of Mach 4 (~4828 km/h). This would not only make it twice as fast as the Concorde, but also faster than the mythical SR-71 Blackbird spy plane designed for a top speed of Mach 3.2 (about 4023 km/h). NASA claims that this supersonic jet will reduce the flight time between New York and London to less than an hour and a half. Typically, a flight to New York takes between eight and nine hours as modern airliners fly at around 965 km/h. For comparison, the famous Concorde, which retired two decades ago, could reach Mach 2 (2169 km/h).
Several reasons led to the end of the Concorde, the sonic boom being one of the main obstacles. Many countries ban supersonic flights because of the devastating noise caused when breaking the sound barrier. This includes the United States, where supersonic flight for civil aviation is prohibited. However, researchers have been working for decades to develop technology capable of reducing sonic booms. NASA’s Quesst mission is one such research project, which aims to develop an experimental silent supersonic aircraft, the X-59.
NASA announced its plans for the development of the supersonic aircraft this week after identifying fifty transoceanic routes connecting major cities, including over the North Atlantic and Pacific. The question of the supersonic boom does not arise when flying over the oceans. “As the United States and other countries ban supersonic flight over land, studies have focused on transoceanic routes, including busy North Atlantic routes and those crossing the Pacific,” said the US space agency.
To advance the development of this aircraft, NASA will award two one-year contracts to aerospace companies to develop designs under its Advanced Air Vehicle Program. The two teams will study aspects such as the structure, power, propulsion, thermal management and materials needed to fly at Mach 4. They will also create non-patent designs for concept vehicles.
“Design concepts and technology roadmaps are essential for us when the companies are done,” said Mary Jo Long-Davis, NASA Hypersonic Technology Project Manager. “We are also all aware of the need to take into account safety, efficiency, economic and societal considerations. It is essential to innovate responsibly in order to benefit travelers and not harm the environment. “
