14 Supersonic Travel Projects After Concorde

Even after the retirement of Concorde in 2003, the United States did not give up on its vision of crossing the sound barrier. A wide range of startups, large players in the aerospace industry, and NASA projects have been working in the background to find new ways to achieve supersonic speeds. Initiatives such as Boom Overture, NASA X-59, Aerion AS2, and others have been working towards reducing sonic booms, increasing fuel efficiency, and overcoming regulatory challenges. Designs for business class aircraft for high-end customers, and research aircraft to inform U.S. policy, were also in the works. Hypersonic projects took it to the next level, testing materials and engines for such high speeds.

1. Boom Supersonic Overture

The Concorde may have retired in 2003, but the United States had its sights set on a new aviation trailblazer to break the sound barrier again. In 2014, Boom Supersonic unveiled the Overture, a futuristic jetliner that would transport between 65 and 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, cutting coast-to-coast travel in half. The proposed plane would serve popular routes such as New York to Los Angeles and transatlantic flights from New York to London. Airlines like United and American expressed hopeful interest in orders and options. The design team focused on sustainable fuel and innovative composite materials to avoid the Concorde’s fuel inefficiency. The XB-1 prototype flew to validate aerodynamics and performance, but the project faced harsh realities. Flying supersonic over land was still prohibited in the United States because of sonic boom issues.

2. NASA X 59 QueSST

While companies pursued routes and tickets, NASA pursued a different objective. The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft, nicknamed QueSST, was designed to tackle the sonic boom issue. Developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, the aircraft boasts a prolonged needle nose, which is meant to reconfigure shock waves. Rather than a loud sonic boom, the aircraft is intended to produce a gentle “thump.” The initiative has progressed from conceptual drawings to assembly in California, with plans for community flight tests in chosen American cities. NASA did not design the X-59 for commercial airline use. It is a research tool to provide real-world feedback, with results intended for regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration. If noise signatures are acceptable, land-based supersonic flight restrictions might be lifted.

3. Aerion AS2

In the Aerion Corporation’s Nevada hangars and Florida offices, the AS2 was designed as a supersonic business jet for affluent passengers. The aircraft was promoted for its cruising speed of Mach 1.4 and its laminar-flow wing, which reduced drag and increased fuel efficiency. Partnerships were established with Boeing and later with engine manufacturers to further develop the design. The AS2 was intended for business executives who prized time above all else, with designs showing a slim fuselage and a peacefully luxurious interior. The AS2 was marketed by Aerion as a feasible supersonic transport for the private aviation industry, with business jets capable of flying supersonically over water and subsonically over land.

4. Spike S-512 Quiet Supersonic Jet

Spike Aerospace unveiled its design for the S-512 Quiet Supersonic Jet at its Boston offices. The proposed aircraft was to fly at speeds close to Mach 1.6, with a minimized sonic boom. The conventional windows in the cabin were replaced by high-definition digital displays that projected images of the outside environment, a decision that the designers believed would improve the strength and efficiency of the aircraft. The proposed aircraft would accommodate 18 passengers in its luxurious executive cabin, with the designers touting the time-saving aspect of the aircraft for routes between US coastal cities and popular transatlantic routes.

5. Lockheed Martin N+2 Supersonic Transport Concept

Within the realm of cutting-edge research, Lockheed Martin engaged in research for future supersonic transport aircraft with studies funded by NASA. The N+2 concept was developed as a conceptual transport plane that would appear two generations in the future. The design focused on efficient cruise at Mach 1.6 speeds and minimizing sonic boom strength. Researchers investigated blended-wing-body designs and optimized fuselage shapes. This conceptual design was not considered for commercial development but served as a template to guide the industry. This design was a response to the economic viability and noise characteristics of the Concorde. Researchers analyzed fuel efficiency, emissions, and compatibility with the U.S. airport infrastructure. While it never entered production, the N+2 conceptual design has influenced more recent research into quiet supersonic transport.

6. Gulfstream Supersonic Business Jet Studies

Gulfstream Aerospace, a Savannah-based company, has been secretly working on supersonic business jet designs since the Concorde days. The company is famous for its luxury business jets and pondered the possibility of Mach 1.6 flight fitting into its product line. The team analyzed low-boom designs and efficient engines, while patent applications revealed designs with slim bodies and novel intake designs. The project targeted wealthy passengers who value flight time and comfort. Gulfstream moved cautiously on this project, considering the stringent noise rules in the US and the steep development costs. Although Gulfstream did not develop any supersonic planes, the project indicated serious interest in the sector.

7. Boeing Supersonic Transport Studies in the 2010s

After the retirement of Concorde, Boeing resumed its research into supersonic passenger transport, collaborating with NASA on the project. The firm investigated innovative designs that would allow the aircraft to fly at speeds above Mach 2, while also addressing the issues of fuel efficiency and noise. The design team worked on low-boom aircraft designs and concepts for variable-cycle engines. The studies examined the feasibility of launching the new aircraft in the 2030s for transcontinental flights originating from the largest U.S. hubs. Even though a Boeing supersonic transport was not produced, the project influenced the course of the industry, indicating that the leading aerospace firm in America still considered supersonic transport relevant in a global market.

8. Virgin Galactic Mach 3 Passenger Aircraft Concept

Virgin Galactic revealed in 2020 a design concept for a Mach 3 supersonic passenger jet, created in partnership with Rolls-Royce Holdings. The proposed design would transport a maximum of 19 passengers at heights above 60,000 feet. The initiative aimed to serve business and first-class passengers seeking quicker transatlantic flights. The proposed design includes a delta wing and a pointed nose, characteristic of traditional supersonic designs. Virgin Galactic positioned the initiative as a natural progression of its high-speed brand heritage, with a specific emphasis on regulatory certification in the US. The proposed aircraft would use sustainable fuels and operate mainly over water, in line with existing sonic boom regulations. The project was still in the conceptual design phase, without a prototype built.

9. Hermeus Quarterhorse and Hypersonic Passenger Vision

Hermeus, founded in Atlanta, made a statement that was both ambitious and specific: the development of hypersonic aircraft that could fly at Mach 5. Although the Quarterhorse project focused on military and research aircraft, the firm also had a passenger aircraft vision. The Quarterhorse project would serve as a stepping stone towards this end, with plans to test engine systems and materials that could resist high temperatures. The project had good initial support, thanks to investment from both the U.S. defense community and the venture capital community. The passenger concept was purely theoretical, but it marked the beginning of an American effort to go beyond the supersonic speed threshold.

10. Exosonic Low Boom Supersonic Airliner

Another contender, Exosonic, a Southern California start-up, entered the fray with a proposal for a low-boom supersonic transport aircraft that would meet U.S. regulatory requirements. The proposed aircraft would carry 70 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.8, with sonic boom capability over land accomplished via shaped shock waves and optimized aerodynamics. The proposed aircraft was marketed to both commercial and business transport customers, and further publicity was generated by studies for presidential transport needs. With its stated mission of community acceptance and efficiency, Exosonic proposed that its aircraft would provide a reduced sonic boom and facilitate future regulatory changes. Though still in the development stage and lacking a flying prototype, the project represented a symbol of a new wave of American entrepreneurial spirit.

11. NASA Commercial Supersonic Technology Program

In addition to specific aircraft, NASA also initiated the Commercial Supersonic Technology program to tackle the hurdles that had prevented a post-Concorde revival. This program supported research in low-noise propulsion, high-temperature materials, and advanced computational modeling, and encouraged collaboration between universities and industry in the United States. The purpose of this program was to lower the technical barriers for future builders. Instead of developing a specific branded plane, it provided a foundation for several projects in the 2010s and 2020s. Results from wind tunnel experiments and flight research were used in regulatory talks with US regulators, and by focusing on science, NASA was able to redefine the landscape of supersonic certification.

12. Lockheed Martin Supersonic Business Jet Concept with Quiet Spike

Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace had also worked together on a concept that was dubbed “Quiet Spike.” The concept involved a nose extension that was meant to reduce the effects of sonic booms. The project specifically focused on the development of a supersonic business transport system that could operate within U.S. airspace. The designers of the Quiet Spike thought that by changing the shape of the shock wave, they could reduce the ground disturbance, and they used wind tunnel tests to determine the viability of this mechanical fix. Although the Quiet Spike was never built, it later influenced the development of low-boom concepts.

13. Boom Supersonic XB 1 Demonstrator

Prior to the existence of a completed airliner, Boom Supersonic built a small-scale prototype named XB 1. This third-scale test aircraft represented Overture technology, hoping to prove the concepts of aerodynamics, composite materials, and supersonic flight stability. The team conducted ground tests in Colorado before transitioning to flight testing in the American Southwest. The slender, single-seat aircraft served as a physical representation of the revived ambitions of the United States in high-speed civil transport. Although XB 1 did not transport any passengers, it served an important storytelling function: by building a real airplane, rather than just conceptual designs, Boom hoped to gain more credibility.

14. Stratolaunch Talon A Hypersonic Test Vehicle

In Mojave, California, Stratolaunch Systems continued development of its Talon A as a high-speed flight demonstrator. While initially intended more as a reusable hypersonic test vehicle, Talon A contributed to wider discussions about the future of passenger transport. The system flew on the back of a large carrier aircraft and reached very high speeds in order to complete its research-based missions. Its development represented a new investment in advanced propulsion and thermal protection systems by Americans. While not itself a commercial airliner, Talon A’s technology had implications for transport speeds. Hypersonic research frequently impacted transport innovation, and by testing materials and guidance systems at very high temperatures, Stratolaunch Systems expanded the technical base required for faster transport.

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