On April 27, 1973, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned civil aircraft from flying over the US at speeds greater than Mach 1. This decision came after the 1968 aircraft noise reduction law and growing public concern about sonic booms from military aircraft in parts of the country. NASA’s Quest mission, on the other hand, is taking firm steps towards re-commissioning supersonic commercial aircraft.The fate of the 50-year ban depends on NASA
The ban that the USA took into effect exactly 50 years ago in 1973 is still valid today. On the other hand, the FAA has been reviewing aircraft noise regulations since the end of 2020 with the aim of replacing civilian supersonic flight control. On the other side of this review, NASA, through the Quesst project, is developing the X-59 experimental aircraft with Lockheed Martin.The main purpose of the X-59 is to test a new aerodynamic fuselage and wing design that deflects the supersonic aircraft’s shock wave upward rather than towards the ground. Once proven airworthiness, it will be flown at Mach 1.4 over a flight test track equipped with ground sensors and a number of volunteer populations to evaluate the aircraft’s sound footprint, which is likened to a sonic rumble instead of an explosion.
According to NASA, thanks to the audio data obtained, the FAA will have the basis to make the relevant regulations. If NASA is successful, the era of supersonic travel could re-enter our lives. There is no clear date for flight testing yet, but the 22,000 pound thrust engine from General Electric Aviation was integrated into the X-59 last December. Some tests have also been carried out so far. If major problems do not occur, the X-59 will take off in 2023.
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