Assessment of Sonic-Boom Problem for Future Air-Transport Vehicles

The economic feasibility of the supersonic transport is critically dependent upon specification of the sonic-boom requirements. Aircraft-design techniques and modifications to the mission profile are evaluated relative to the sonic-boom intensity. An intermediate-range, domestic, supersonic transport optimized from considerations of the sonic boom is analyzed relative to potential boom levels. Future air vehicles, such as the hypersonic transport and ballistic transport, are discussed relative to their sonic-boom characteristics.