Shaped Boom Successes Increase Demand For Supersonic Demonstrator

Success in the wind tunnel is increasing pressure on NASA to find funds for a supersonic flight demonstrator to take low-boom testing out of the confines of Edwards AFB, Calif., and into communities not inured to sonic booms. While confidence is growing that aircraft can be designed that have both low sonic boom and good cruise efficiency, exactly what level of boom the public will judge acceptable for routine supersonic flight over land is not so clear ...