[PapaBear3625]

That sonic boom also represents wasted energy. If we can eliminate the sonic boom, perhaps fuel economy at supersonic speeds would go up.

[usconservative]

That sonic boom also represents wasted energy. If we can eliminate the sonic boom, perhaps fuel economy at supersonic speeds would go up.

The things I've learned on this forum over the past 25 years just keep increasing. That's one of the coolest and most interesting things I've read in a long time.

I've no idea how sonic boom translates into wasted energy but it sounds damn' cool to me!

[Fractal Trader]

That sonic boom also represents wasted energy. If we can eliminate the sonic boom, perhaps fuel economy at supersonic speeds would go up

I always wondered why fighters and bombers are so loud. Isn't it a waste of energy, or would it require more energy to silence them?

[pelican001]

“That sonic boom also represents wasted energy. If we can eliminate the sonic boom, perhaps fuel economy at supersonic speeds would go up.”

It’s true that the sonic boom represents waisted energy, as is the case for the bow wave on a boat. But unforntunatly, there is no way to eliminate the shock wave ahead of a supersonic aircraft, and therefore no way to eliminate the somic boom.

As I understand it, the goal of the X-59 is to spread out the shock wave somewhat to reduce the peak sound intensity.