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The potential impact of these advancements is enormous. Imagine cutting transoceanic flight times in half while still respecting community noise concerns. This would open new markets, reduce travel times significantly, and revolutionize the aviation industry. Additionally, quieter sonic booms could lead to fewer regulatory restrictions, making supersonic commercial flight more feasible and widespread.
Looking Ahead
As of now, the X-59 is still in the experimental phase, with test flights helping researchers refine the shape and flight characteristics. If these tests prove successful, they could lead to regulatory changes that enable quieter, faster commercial aircraft to take to the skies in the coming decades.