The age of supersonic commercial flight could soon make a return.
NASA said it wants to bring back supersonic air travel for the masses for the first time since the demise of Concorde.
The space agency unveiled a prototype design of a supersonic aircraft that would virtually match the speed of Concorde but without the deafening ‘sonic boom.’
The ‘QueSST’ aircraft would be able to reach Mach 1.4 speeds of about 1,100 mph, nearly twice as fast as current jets.
The sonic boom would be reduced to ‘more like a soft thump,’ said NASA administrator Charlie Bolden.
"NASA is working hard to make flight greener, safer and quieter, all while developing aircraft that travel faster, and building an aviation system that operates more efficiently," Bolden said.
A prototype ready for test flights and built by the private sector, could be completed by 2019 if the agency can secure the funding from Congress.
NASA said the ultimate goal is to produce a commercially viable jet for up to 100 passengers for the ‘flying public to enjoy supersonic flight.’
"Just imagine you can go anywhere in the world in six hours," said Jaiwon Shin, NASA’s head of aeronautics.
