Supersonic Flights and Their Challenges

How long did it take for a British Airways plane to fly from New York to London in 1996?

• Three hours and 15 minutes

• Two hours and 53 minutes

• Five hours and 10 minutes

• Four hours and 20 minutes

What was the speed of the Concorde compared to a normal airliner?

• Slightly faster

• Half the speed

• Same speed

• More than twice the speed

What is a sonic boom?

• A weather phenomenon

• A type of turbulence

• A continuous moving shockwave

• A type of engine noise

Why were Concorde flights mostly restricted to ocean routes?

• Due to sonic booms affecting people on the ground

• Due to shorter flight paths

• Because of fuel efficiency

• Because of air traffic control

How much could a single transatlantic round-trip on the Concorde cost in today's money?

• More than $10,000

• $5,000

• $2,000

• $1,000

What is one of the biggest concerns with making flights faster?

• Air traffic control

• Passenger comfort

• Weather conditions

• Fuel economy

What happens if a plane's wing sweep is adjusted to reduce aerodynamic drag?

• The plane becomes lighter

• The plane becomes slower

• The wings must be longer

• The plane uses less fuel

What has research by NASA and DARPA shown about reducing the impact of a sonic boom?

• Using different materials can reduce the impact

• Increasing the speed can reduce the impact

• Modifying an aircraft’s shape can reduce the impact by 1/3

• Flying at lower altitudes can reduce the impact

What is one proposed design to reduce the impact of a sonic boom?

• Flying at lower altitudes

• Increasing the engine size

• Extending the nose with a long spike

• Shortening the wings

What might solve the energy efficiency problem for faster flights in the future?

• Shorter routes

• More passengers

• Larger planes

• Alternative and synthetic fuels