The ongoing development work has the potential to lead to future advancements in commercial ultrasonic machinery.
In the United States, NASA, the national space administration, on Friday showcased a newly developed silent supersonic plane. This aircraft, which has been given the name X-59, was unveiled in Palmdale, California.
One of the unique characteristics of this machine is its ability to operate with minimal noise. Despite the fact that the plane can achieve speeds greater than the speed of sound, it does not produce the expected supersonic boom that is typically associated with such speeds and can cause disturbances in residential areas.
This innovative airplane was engineered by the renowned American company, Lockheed Martin. The aircraft measures over 30 meters in length and has been designed to reach speeds of approximately 1,500 kilometers per hour while flying at an altitude of nearly 17 kilometers. This is significantly faster than the speed of sound in air, which is estimated to be around 1,235 kilometers per hour.
NASA harbors aspirations that the X-59 could potentially pave the way for the reintroduction of commercial flights with supersonic planes. However, it’s important to note that the X-59 is merely a prototype at this stage and is not equipped to carry passengers.
The last known supersonic plane to be used in commercial aviation was the French-British Concorde. The Concorde, which made its final flights in 2003, was capable of reaching speeds of about 2,200 kilometers per hour while flying at an altitude of approximately 15 kilometers.
