Won’t it be nice to fly across the Pacific in only four hours or cross the Atlantic in half the time the modern subsonic jets take! Over six decades of research on supersonic commercial aircraft design have paved the way for a new era in high-speed travel that is not too far from becoming a reality. The grounding of the Anglo-French Concorde has perhaps spurred even more of an urgency to bring the next supersonic aircraft to the market. Several aerospace companies have been at the forefront in the design and development of supersonic transport and business jet aircraft that will fly above the speed of sound and carry as many as 90 passengers. In this panel, we will discuss technology advancements in materials, manufacturing, engines, design methods for efficient aerodynamics, reduced sonic boom, affordability, and the business potential, made possible by extensive research & development by NASA over last several decades.
The Panel members are as follows: