Initial information about C949, a supersonic airliner initiative, has been discreetly revealed by China’s state-owned enterprises. aerospace large COMAC, signaling its aspirations to lead the way in aviation with the innovative new aircraft that has the potential to reshape international air travel.
In a recently published scholarly article, Comac engineers unveiled plans for a 1.6-Mach jetliner engineered to travel longer distances with significantly reduced noise levels compared to the discontinued Concorde, potentially placing China at the vanguard of a new era of supersonic aviation in this century.
A group headed by Wu Dawei, who is an award-winning member of Comac, aerodynamicist stated in an article dated March 14, published in Acta Aeronautica Sinica, that the initiative sought to accomplish what aerospace engineers have been pursuing for many years: increasing the operational range by 50% compared to the Concorde (upgrading from 7,200 km or 4,500 miles to 11,000 km or 6,800 miles). Additionally, they aim to reduce sonic booms to just 83.9 PLdB, which is about as loud as a hair dryer.
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This decrease in noise levels, dropping to one-twentieth of the original amount, Concorde's a thunderous boom due to its intensity, seeks to overcome regulatory obstacles that have previously prohibited overland supersonic flights.
The C949 is set to go head-to-head with comparable initiatives from various nations, including NASA and Lockheed Martin’s X-59. According to experts, the victor in this competition could redefine the standards of international air travel.
The C949 incorporates a shape-changing body featuring a curvaceous “reverse-camber” middle section designed to reduce shockwaves, thereby postponing their transformation into destructive forces. booms .
A slender, spear-like projection divides the primary shockwave into three softer impulses, whereas aerodynamic swellings close to the engines disperse exhaust turbulence, thereby dampening the rearward sonic boom.
The aircraft would require an artificial intelligence-powered The fly-by-wire system provides “complete control authority” to manage severe aerodynamic non-linearities and counteract stability losses at high sideslip angles, as stated by Wu and his team.
Several minor yet crucial design modifications have been implemented, including a system that moves approximately 42,000 kg (93,000 pounds) of fuel among seven tanks during flight. This dynamic adjustment helps maintain optimal center of gravity for better balancing of the aircraft throughout the journey.
The jet is driven by two adaptive-cycle turbofan engines, designed to adjust their bypass ratios for efficient operation during Mach 1.6 low-boom cruise as well as Mach 1.7 eco mode flights at an altitude of 16,000 meters (approximately 52,000 feet). Comac asserts that its takeoff noise complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Chapter 14 standards, crucial for airports in urban areas.
As tensions between the United States and China over technology continue to rise, Comac has unveiled specifics about their project. While NASA’s X-59 QueSST aims to achieve 75 PLdB by 2027 and startups such as Boom Supersonic focus on specialized segments, the C949 is geared towards broader market acceptance.
"The potential number of supersonic Passengers might hit 45 million," which would be approximately 1 percent of all global air travelers annually, according to Wu's group, referencing prominent industry projections.
The team created seating arrangements for 28 to 48 passengers within a business-class-like cabin, significantly more streamlined compared to Concorde’s 100-passenger capability.
Thanks to the increased range, the aircraft would be capable of traveling directly from Shanghai to Los Angeles in approximately five hours.
At first, the airliner aimed to focus on trans-Pacific routes across oceanic pathways to reduce noise complaints.
However, the initiative still faces several hurdles. Lowering the noise level represents only part of the challenge, as past studies have indicated. For example, fuel expenses would continue to be exorbitant unless the engines can significantly surpass current levels of efficiency. Concorde's Olympus 593.
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Comac unveiled an ambitious schedule last year for multiple initiatives. They stated their intention to introduce the twin-aisle C929 aircraft by 2027 as competition against Boeing’s 787 model. Additionally, they plan to unveil the 400-seater C939—a massive 300-ton craft targeting the market currently dominated by the Boeing 777X—by 2039. By 2049, which marks the centennial celebration of the establishment of the People's Republic, Comac aims to have the C949 operational along with developing “hybrid space-air crafts” among their future endeavors.
However, the C949's biggest challenge might be psychological, say certain aviation specialists.
The Concorde's 2000 Paris crash The incident where 113 people perished continues to haunt aviation history. COMAC needs to assure both airlines and passengers that the next chapter of supersonic travel won’t replicate its grim past—a challenge that demands not only exceptional engineering skills but also an acute understanding of economics and fostering trust, experts noted.
This might clarify why, in the competition to resurrect supersonic travel, China has made the most significant move with minimal fanfare.