Supersonic aircraft with active lift distribution control for reducing sonic boom

摘要

Methods and systems for actively reducing sonic boom in commercial supersonic aircraft and other supersonic aircraft are described herein. A method for operating an aircraft in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes configuring at least one lift control device to produce a first streamwise lift distribution, and flying the aircraft at a subsonic speed while the lift control device is configured to produce the first streamwise lift distribution. The method can further include configuring the lift control device to produce a second streamwise lift distribution, and flying the aircraft at a supersonic speed while the lift control device is configured to produce the second streamwise lift distribution. The first streamwise lift distribution produces an N-shaped ground pressure signature and a corresponding first sonic boom at the supersonic speed. The second streamwise lift distribution, however, produces a “shaped” ground pressure signature and a corresponding second sonic boom that is less than the first sonic boom at the supersonic speed.