Table Of ContentC o m m e r c i a l
SUPERSONIC
T e c h n o l o g y
The Way Ahead
Committee on Breakthrough Technology for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
National Research Council
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C.
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National Research Council
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COMMITTEE ON BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR COMMERCIAL SUPERSONIC
AIRCRAFT
DIANNE S. WILEY, Chair, The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, California
H. LEE BEACH, JR., Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia
JAMES A. (MICKY) BLACKWELL, Lockheed Martin (retired), Marietta, Georgia
EUGENE E. COVERT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
DONALD M. DIX, Department of Defense (retired), McLean, Virginia
WILLARD DODDS, GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, Ohio
ILAN KROO, Stanford University, Stanford, California
DOMENIC J. MAGLIERI, Eagle Aeronautics, Inc., Hampton, Virginia
MATTHEW MILLER, The Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington
DORA E. MUSIELAK, University of Texas, Arlington
DAVID K. SCHMIDT, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
MICHAEL WINSLOW, Honeywell, Dayton, Ohio
BILL G.W. YEE, Pratt & Whitney (retired), West Palm Beach, Florida
Liaison from the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
ROBERT C. GOETZ, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (retired), Santa Clara, California
Staff
PRABHAKAR MISRA, Study Coordinator
ALAN ANGLEMAN, Senior Program Officer
MARY LOU AQUILO, Senior Project Assistant
BRIDGET EDMONDS, Senior Project Assistant
GEORGE LEVIN, Director, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
MARVIN WEEKS, Senior Administrative Assistant
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AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
WILLIAM W. HOOVER, Chair, U.S. Air Force (retired), Williamsburg, Virginia
A. DWIGHT ABBOTT, Aerospace Corporation (retired), Los Angeles, California
RUZENA K. BAJSCY, NAE, IOM, University of California, Berkeley
WILLIAM F. BALLHAUS, JR., NAE, Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, California
JAMES BLACKWELL, Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired), Marietta, Georgia
ANTHONY J. BRODERICK, aviation safety consultant, Catlett, Virginia
DONALD L. CROMER, U.S. Air Force (retired), Lompoc, California
ROBERT A. DAVIS, The Boeing Company (retired), Blaine, Washington
JOSEPH FULLER, JR., Futron Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland
RICHARD GOLASZEWSKI, GRA Inc., Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
JAMES M. GUYETTE, Rolls-Royce North America, Reston, Virginia
FREDERICK HAUCK, AXA Space, Bethesda, Maryland
JOHN L. JUNKINS, NAE, Texas A&M University, College Station
JOHN K. LAUBER, Airbus Industrie of North America, Washington, D.C.
GEORGE MUELLNER, The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, California
DAVA J. NEWMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
JAMES G. O’CONNOR, NAE, Pratt & Whitney (retired), Coventry, Connecticut
MALCOLM R. O’NEILL, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland
CYNTHIA SAMUELSON, Logistics Management Institute, Springfield, Virginia
WINSTON E. SCOTT, Florida State University, Tallahassee
KATHRYN C. THORNTON, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
ROBERT E. WHITEHEAD, NASA (retired), Henrico, North Carolina
DIANNE S. WILEY, The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, California
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, Northrop Grumman, El Segundo, California
Staff
GEORGE LEVIN, Director
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii
Preface
Affordable, reliable, and safe air transportation is impor- committee concluded that an economically viable supersonic
tant to quality of life and economic growth. Civil aviation aircraft will require new focused efforts in several areas, as
has become an essential mode of transportation nationally well as continued development of technology on a broad
and globally. If the United States intends to maintain su- front. Furthermore, NASA must advance key technologies
premacy in the commercial aerospace sector, it has to take a to a technology readiness level (TRL) high enough (i.e., a
long-term perspective and channel adequate resources into TRL of 6, as defined by NASA) to facilitate the handoff of
research and technology development. In fact, this task is research results to the aerospace industry for commercial de-
one of the legislatively established objectives of the National velopment. The committee concluded that maturation of key
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), but it will technologies could enable operational deployment of an
not be achieved without a vigorous aeronautics program that environmentally acceptable, economically viable commer-
is relevant to the development of advanced commercial air- cial supersonic aircraft with a cruise speed of less than
craft, including supersonic aircraft. approximately Mach 2 in 25 years or less—perhaps a lot
NASA’s Aerospace Technology Enterprise has estab- less, with an aggressive technology development program
lished 10 technology goals, one of which is to cut in half the focused on smaller supersonic aircraft, because goals in
time it takes to travel from the United States to the Far East many critical areas would be easier to achieve with smaller
and Europe. Achieving this objective will require new tech- aircraft. However, it may take longer to overcome the more
nology to improve the performance and affordability of su- difficult technological and environmental challenges associ-
personic aircraft while meeting public expectations related ated with building a large commercial supersonic aircraft
to safety, noise, and engine emissions. Advanced research with a cruise speed in excess of approximately Mach 2.
and technology are also needed to establish the feasibility of This study benefited from a high level of public interest.
reducing sonic boom sufficiently to allow sustained super- Many individuals from interested organizations attended the
sonic commercial flight over land—a capability that would committee’s information-gathering meetings, which in-
greatly enhance the utility and economic viability of super- cluded opportunities for public input. This broad participa-
sonic aircraft. tion made an important contribution to the committee’s de-
The National Research Council (NRC) was commis- liberations, and the committee is indebted to everyone who
sioned by NASA to conduct an 18-month study to identify gave of their time and talent at the meetings.
breakthrough technologies for overcoming key barriers to This report has been reviewed in draft form by individu-
the development of an environmentally acceptable and eco- als chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical exper-
nomically viable commercial supersonic aircraft. The NRC tise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s
subsequently established the Committee on Breakthrough Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent
Technology for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft. The study review is to provide candid and critical comments that will
committee met four times between October 2000 and March assist the institution in making its published report as sound
2001 and also had other ancillary visits and teleconferences as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional
to collect relevant information, identify and assess alterna- standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to
tive technologies, and generate a list of appropriate findings, the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript
conclusions, and recommendations. As detailed herein, the remain confidential to protect the integrity of the delibera-
vii
viii PREFACE
tive process. We wish to thank the following individuals for see the final draft of the report before its release. The review
their review of this report: of this report was overseen by Raymond S. Colladay,
RC Space Enterprises, Inc. Appointed by the National
Linden Blue, General Atomics, Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that
Michael Hudson, Rolls-Royce North America, an independent examination of this report was carried out in
Antony Jameson, Stanford University, accordance with institutional procedures and that all review
Ira Kuhn, Directed Technologies, Inc., comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the
Kenneth Plotkin, Wyle Laboratories, and final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring
William Sirignano, University of California, Irvine committee and the institution.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many Dianne S. Wiley, Chair
constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked Committee on Breakthrough Technology
to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
1 INTRODUCTION 6
Statement of Task and Study Approach, 6
Background, 8
References, 9
2 TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES 10
Customer Requirements, 10
Vehicle Characteristics and Economic Goals, 11
Environmental Goals, 13
Technology Challenges, 15
References, 16
3 NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH ON
CRITICAL SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGIES 17
Configurations for Reduced Sonic Boom, 17
Advanced Aerodynamic Concepts and Configurations, 18
Vehicle Dynamics and Control, 21
High-Fidelity Integrated Design Tools, 23
Variable Cycle Engines, 25
References, 25
4 AREAS NEEDING CONTINUED TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT 27
Propulsion Emissions and Noise, 27
Propulsion Materials, 33
Airframe Materials and Structures, 35
Cockpit Sensors and Displays, 37
In-Flight Safety, 38
Certification, 39
References, 39
5 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 41
Closing Remarks, 43
Reference, 43
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