The overland supersonic transport with low sonic boom—a feasibility study

Abstract

Recent ideas on the possibilities of supersonic flight without significant sonic boom are reviewed in the context of application to a large supersonic airliner. The idea of a third-generation supersonic transport designed for overland operation at Mach numbers greater than two without sonic boom annoyance and derived from a second-generation conventional overwater supersonic transport is introduced. The derivative airplane would share a common propulsion system, major features and subsystems and would exploit the same technology base. It would require the addition of a large wing glove at the wing leading-edge inboard and substantial changes to the fuselage. An airplane designed for coast to coast flight across the United States would not need as large a takeoff gross weight as its intercontinental parent, but the efficiency of the airplane would be reduced because of design compromises necessary to reduce sonic boom substantially. Payload range calculations indicate that the general concept of a family of supersonic-transport airplanes with an overland version may become feasible.