United States Supersonic Transport Development Program - Sonic Boom and Noise Research

Performance objectives for the United States supersonic transport airplane provide for minimum sonic boom levels, and engine noise levels no greater than generated by current large subsonic jet aircraft.

A national program of sonic boom research has been pursued by the NASA, DOD, and FAA. A National Academy of Sciences committee is now providing guidance and counsel for this effort. Major recent sonic boom flight research programs, which have yielded extensive data, were the study of public reaction to sonic boom in the Oklahoma City area last year and the structural response program recently concluded at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Findings in these two sonic boom programs are presented.

Engine noise, which has received attention since the inception of supersonic transport research and under design contracts, may be less for the SST than for current large subsonic jets under most conditions. A discussion of this subject is presented.