Supersonic | Must Watch |

The greatest obstacle to overland supersonic flight has historically been the —a thunderous shockwave that can rattle windows and cause property damage. This led to a 52-year ban on civilian supersonic flight over land in the U.S..

: Through its Quesst mission , NASA is testing the experimental X-59 aircraft , designed to replace the boom with a quiet "thump". By using a long, 38-foot nose and unique airframe shaping, the plane aims to reduce the perceived noise level to about 75 decibels —roughly equivalent to a neighbor closing a car door. supersonic

Supersonic flight, once the exclusive playground of the Concorde and military pilots, is on the cusp of a major commercial revival. After a two-decade hiatus following the retirement of the Concorde in 2003 , new players like Boom Supersonic and NASA are working to overcome the technical and regulatory hurdles that grounded the previous generation of ultra-fast travel. Breaking the Sound Barrier... Quietly The greatest obstacle to overland supersonic flight has