Technology Status for an Advanced Supersonic Transport

This paper presents an assessment of the current technology for an Advanced Supersonic Transport designed to expand the service now provided by the Concorde. The assessment includes an examination of the improvements in the areas of aerodynamics, materials, structures, acoustics, propulsion, and economics. Significant technology development and testing completed or underway at Douglas Aircraft Company are described along with efforts of government agencies and other major U.S. aircraft and engine companies. Also, improvements in modeling the physical processes of the upper atmosphere and the possibility of pollution by exhaust emission are addressed.

The question is not whether but when all these technology developments can be put together to produce an economically viable and environmentally acceptable Advanced Supersonic Transport. For example, a new Douglas baseline design with 350 passengers is defined to show range, fuel efficiency, and productivity gains. Such an airplane opens up the major international city-pair markets of the entire world to fast, efficient transportation.