Is killing the boom the key to supersonic air travel?

There have been proposals to return to faster-than-sound commercial flight ever since Concorde retired 15 years ago. But now those plans look closer to being realised.

Three US aerospace firms – Boom Supersonic, Aerion Supersonic and Spike Aerospace – are racing to be the first to slash travel times across the globe, with passenger jets that can travel faster than Mach 1 – the speed of sound (761mph or 1,225km/h at sea level).

All plan to have their aircraft in regular service by 2025.

Technologically, supersonic flight is not complex to achieve. The challenge is offering a service that passengers can afford, is less polluting, and crucially, that eliminates Concorde's window-rattling sonic booms.

The huge thunder-clap-like noise created when an aircraft breaks through the sound barrier can even cause damage to structures.

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