Some Aspects of Noise From Supersonic Aircraft

Abstract

SummaryThe noise problem associated with an aircraft flying at supersonic speeds is shown to depend primarily on the shock wave pattern formed by the aircraft. The noise intensity received by a ground observer from a supersonic aircraft flying at high as well as low altitudes, is shown to be high, although it is of a transient nature.A study of the shock wave patterns around an aircraft in accelerated and retarded flight is shown to lead to an explanation of the one or more booms, of short duration, heard by ground observers after an aircraft has dived at supersonic speeds.The shock wave patterns associated with an aircraft flying in accelerated or retarded flight at transonic speeds are shown in certain cases to be very different from the corresponding patterns observed in steady flight. The significance of these results, with reference to problems of flight at supersonic speeds is briefly discussed.