NASA and Lockheed Martin are collaborating on the X-59, a demonstrator aircraft designed to change the future of supersonic aviation. This initiative, led by NASA and Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division, renowned for the SR-71 Blackbird, aims to overcome the sonic disturbances that resulted in a 1973 FAA ban on supersonic commercial aircraft over land. The innovative approach of the X-59 lies in the aircraft's unique design. Advancements in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have enabled NASA and Skunk Works to iteratively model numerous aircraft designs. Their goal is to minimize shock waves, particularly those reaching the ground, by shaping the aircraft to reduce the intensity of the shock waves and strategically placing the largest shock waves on the aircraft's top. This would result in a ground-level noise impact similar to a car door slam as heard from across the street – something they call a 'sonic thud.' If successful, the 'sonic thud' could persuade the FAA to lift the long-standing ban, potentially revolutionizing the commercial airline industry by reintroducing supersonic travel over land and dramatically reducing travel times. #NASA #LockheedMartin #Supersonic #Aircraft #Aviation #SR71 #CFD #ComputationalFluidDynamics #AircraftDesign #WindTunnels