China Market Insider Supersonic Aircraft as Quiet as a Hairdryer

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China has quietly revealed astonishing details about its new supersonic aircraft. The C949 will have 50 percent more range than the famous Concorde before it was retired, its developers write in a Chinese professional journal. The noise level is said to be reduced by a factor of 20 compared to the Concorde.

The focus on range and noise control shows that Chinese engineers, with their technological innovations, not only aim to improve the hardware for a new era of supersonic flight but have also learned from the commercial issues of the Concorde. The thunderous boom of the Concorde repeatedly sparked protests during its service. For example, in 2003, Allan Greene, who led a civic group near JFK Airport in New York, called it an "everyday affront to anyone living near the airport." "This repulsive noise was like a constant reminder that people like us don't matter and that our lives can be sacrificed to serve super-rich passengers," Greene was quoted by ABC Science at the time.

First Test Flights Probably not until after 2030

The prototype of the Chinese supersonic jet now has a PLdB value ("Perceived Level in Decibels") of 83.9, reducing the "perceived loudness" of the C949's sonic boom to the volume of a "hairdryer," as the South China Morning Post commented. Even though the actual values can probably only be confirmed after the first test flights, which observers anticipate may not occur until after 2030, the focus on flight noise demonstrates that China's development team at the state-owned aerospace company "Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac)" is already considering the licenses from international aviation authorities necessary for commercial use.

A long, needle-thin nose on the C949 is said to split the front shockwave into three gentler impulses, according to the Chinese engineers in their essay. Aerodynamic bulges near the engines are supposed to break up the exhaust turbulence, further reducing the sonic boom.

The design of the new jet is aimed both at noise reduction and at achieving the most efficient fuel consumption possible—the second potential hurdle for reviving supersonic flights in an era of highly motivated climate activists. A long, needle-thin tapered nose is intended to split the front shock wave into three softer impulses on the C949, the Chinese engineers write in their paper. Aerodynamic contours near the engines are designed to break up exhaust turbulence, further reducing the boom.

Optimize Center of Gravity and Reduce Consumption

Other design innovations, such as a component that allows 92,600 lbs of fuel to be "dynamically" shifted between seven tanks, aim to optimize the center of gravity during flight, which in turn helps reduce consumption. The C949, expected to take off in 2049, is designed to fly at a speed of 1.7 Mach (in "eco mode") and 1.6 Mach (in "low-boom mode"). This is somewhat slower than the Concorde at the time, again illustrating the balancing act between what is technically possible and what is commercially viable, which is currently being attempted at Comac.

From Shanghai to LA in Five Hours

Chinese media report that this speed will make a nonstop flight from Shanghai to LA possible in five hours. The range of the C949 is expected to increase by 50 percent compared to the Concorde, from 2,800–6,800 miles, enabling more lucrative routes. There is an anticipated potential demand for 45 million supersonic passenger flights per year, which is about one percent of the world's total air traffic. The cabin of the C949, reminiscent of the current business class, will accommodate 28 to 48 passengers. The target group is therefore businesspeople who prioritize speed over comfort—or those who do not fly in first class anyway.

A New Era of Supersonic Flight Begins

The C949 is the top model in a series of commercial jets with which Comac aims to gradually reduce China's aviation dependence on Boeing and Airbus. By developing the new aircraft, China demonstrates its intention to compete with NASA, Lockheed Martin, and the US Space Agency, which are jointly developing a supersonic jet called the X-59. The aim in the USA is also to "completely revolutionize aviation," as stated by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Vice President Greg Ulmer during the presentation of a precursor model last year.

The new era of supersonic flight demands aircraft that are "quiet, fast, and high quality," Ulmer said on the occasion. Now it will be exciting to observe whether the supersonic jets from China may be even quieter, faster, and of higher quality than those from America.

Henrik Bork, a longtime China correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Frankfurter Rundschau, is Managing Director at Asia Waypoint, a Beijing-based consulting agency specialized in China. 

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