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| U.S. Navy F/A-18 approaching the sound barrier. The white halo is formed by condensed water droplets which result from the shock wave shedding from the aircraft. Photo: Ensign John Gay, U.S. Navy |
[Avionics Today 06-04-2015] Quieter, greener supersonic travel is the focus of eight studies selected by NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project to receive more than $2.3 million in funding for research that may help overcome the remaining barriers to commercial supersonic flight. The research, which will be conducted by universities and industry, will address sonic booms and high-altitude emissions from supersonic jets.
The titles of the studies and details of the awards are:
Study: Global Environmental Impact of Supersonic Cruise Aircraft in the Stratosphere
Award: $1.2 million over four years
Conducted by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Study: The Influence of Turbulence on Shaped Sonic Booms
Award: $1.2 million over three years
Conducted by: Wyle Laboratories
Study: Sonic Boom Display
Award: $698,000
Conducted by: Rockwell Collins
Study: Pilot Interface for Mitigating Sonic Boom
Award: $686,000 over two years
Conducted by: Honeywell
Study: Quiet Nozzle Concepts for Low Boom Aircraft
Award: $575,000 over two years
Conducted by: University of California
Study: Evaluation of Low Noise Integration Concepts and Propulsion Technologies for Future Supersonic Civil Transports
Award: $599,000 over two years
Conducted by: GE Global Research
Study: Waveforms and Sonic Boom Perception and Response Risk Reduction
Award: $337,000 for one year
Conducted by: Applied Physical Sciences
Study: Risk Reduction for Future Community Testing with a Low-Boom Flight Demonstration Vehicle
Award: $393,000 over one year
Conducted by: Fidell Associates
The awards to Applied Physical Sciences and Fidell Associates are guaranteed only for the first year. One of the two will be selected to receive about $450,000 a year for two more years.