Posted on 07/01/2026 5:28:36 AM PDT by Red Badger
The Department of Transportation announced today a return to a technology of the past that feels like it's from the future.
Supersonic flight is returning to commercial airlines once again.
For too long, outdated rules based on old technology held back American aerospace innovation. Now, we are updating those rules for the first time since the 1970s.
Today @USDOT announced a new proposal to enable civil supersonic flight by replacing speed limits with noise… pic.twitter.com/vwR4J88W1F— Director Michael Kratsios (@mkratsios47) June 30, 2026
But it's going to make a return under the Trump DOT.
Here's Transportation.gov:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking a pivotal step toward enabling civil supersonic flights over the continental United States. Thanks to massive innovations in supersonic technology, it will be possible to safely operate these innovative aircraft without a sonic boom. When operational, next-gen supersonic planes will drastically reduce travel times - enabling faster movement of people and goods.
Today's proposed rule sets a noise-based certification standard for supersonic aircraft. In addition to this first rule, the FAA plans to propose another rule later this year, establishing landing and takeoff noise standards for supersonic aircraft.
Together, these actions will give manufacturers the guidance they need to finalize their designs and bring these exciting innovations online.
Just because regulations have prevented supersonic commercial flights doesn't mean that the professionals haven't been working on designs.
These new regulations that focus on sound help provide the framework for engineers to work within.
Aircraft flying at supersonic speeds - Mach 1 and above - are traveling approximately 770+ miles per hour. Commercial airlines generally fly between 550 and 600 miles per hour.
One key to enabling supersonic travel is reducing the noise experienced by sonic booms. One means of achieving this is using a flight technique called Mach cutoff where the aircraft design, atmospheric conditions, speed, and altitude work in combination to ensure the sonic boom bends and refracts back into the atmosphere, significantly reducing its ground-level impact.
The FAA is collaborating with the International Civil Aviation Organization, NASA, industry, and academic institutions and applying their research to inform supersonic noise standards.
This is exciting news for plane nerds.
Now, the real question is, How many illegal aliens can we fit on one of these bad boys?
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AVIATION PING!.................
Released in 1982. Steely Dan.
[Verse 1]
Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream’s in sight
You’ve got to admit it
At this point in time that it’s clear
The future looks bright
[Pre-Chorus]
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by ‘76 we’ll be A-OK
[Chorus]
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
[Verse 2]
Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there’s time
The fix is in
You’ll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we’ve got to win
You might also like
Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
Taylor Swift
Fresh Out The Slammer
Taylor Swift
don’t wanna break up again
Ariana Grande
[Pre-Chorus]
Here at home we’ll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There’ll be spandex jackets one for everyone
[Chorus]
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Bridge]
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(more leisure for artists everywhere)
A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We’ll be clean when their work is done
We’ll be eternally free yes and eternally young
[Chorus]
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Fittingly on our 250th!!
In the early 1960s jets would break the sound barrier.
The huge, expensive picture windows of my parents’ house developed leaks and condensation problems.
You start handling illegals with a gun, so no plane ticket is needed.
So Kings, Princes and Investment Bankers can get places faster
We'll take the message of the Lord
We'll be singing, voices ringing
His love is shining through in every chord
We ain't slowin' down
Comin' at the speed of sound
Taylor Swift in 1982?.......................
At first I read this as “Sean P Diddy”
Sean P. Duffy
Cool.
I would like to see how they accomplish the speed without the boom, the design features.
Advancement.
NASA and Lockheed Martin’s X-59 quiet supersonic jet makes first flight
The jet says “SUPERSOONIC” on it.
Supersonic soon maybe?
;)
Yeah, that was accidentally missed! Donald Fagan of Steely Dan actually recorded that tune.
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