In a joint ceremony with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, on Friday, Nasa revealed the X-59, an experimental aircraft that is expected to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound – or 925mph (1,488 km/h).

The aircraft, which stands at 99.7ft (30.4 metres) long and 29.5ft wide, has a thin, tapered nose that comprises nearly a third of the aircraft’s full length – a feature designed to disperse shock waves that would typically surround supersonic aircraft and result in sonic booms.

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[–] Landsharkgun@midwest.social 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Please don't. We need to be reducing air travel, not increasing it. Go invent a quiet supersonic train or something.

[–] Narauko@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What is your plan for intercontinental travel? Increased ship travel, taking a week and burning massive amounts of crude fuel oil? Just cut off the Americas and Australia from Europe, Africa and Asia for non-commercial purposes? The supersonics have mostly been used for trans-atlantic and trans-pacific travel.

[–] llii@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago

Less and more efficient airplanes. Supersonic aircraft will consume more fuel.