China develops a C949 transcendent passenger aircraft with a range of 10,900 km and 28 – 48 passengers.
Comac revealed the design of the passenger aircraft C949. Image: Comac
The Chinese commercial aircraft group (COMAC) aims to redefine supersonic transport with C949 passenger aircraft speed of 1.6 MAC (nearly 2,000 km/h), promising to fly further and significantly reducing noise compared to the supersonic airport, Interesting Engineering On 30/3 reported. The group of engineers led by Wu Dawei, the aerodynamic that won the award of Comac, presented the design of the new passenger aircraft in the published in the magazine Acta Air Force Sinica.
The team aims for C949 to increase 50% of the operating range compared to Concorde, from 7,200 km to 10,900 km. The project also aims to reduce the supersonic explosion to 83.9 PLDB, equivalent to the sound of a hair dryer.
The reduction of noise is only 1/20 compared to Concorde’s thunder -like explosion will help C949 overcome legal barriers that each supersonic flight takes place on the mainland. This aircraft will compete with similar projects from organizations like NASA and Lockheed Martin, including X-59 aircraft. Some researchers believe that “winners” may redefine the global aviation industry.
The body of the C949 can change the shape with the center of the Camber curved in a backward style that reduces the shockwave, prevents them from turning into a noisy explosion. The long nose is like a needle to divide the shockwave leading into three lighter pulses, while the aerodynamic bulging space near the engine helps disperse the exhaust pose, thereby mitigating the explosion. In addition, the design also includes some important adjustments such as the fuel system that can move 42,000 kg between 7 boxes to maintain balance and optimize the focus when flying.
Industrial estimates show that supersonic transport can reach 45 million passengers per year, equivalent to about 1% of the total number of global customers each year. While NASA’s X-59 Quesst targets 75 PLDB noise and released in 2027, startups like Boom Supersonic focus on the niche market, Comac’s C949 is designed to operate within wide range.
C949 carrying 28 – 48 passengers in the cabin in the business style, significantly less than the capacity of 100 passengers of Concorde. With a longer range of operations, new supersonic aircraft can fly directly from Shanghai to Los Angeles for about 5 hours. Initially, it will focus on the trans -Pacific routes, flying through the ocean corridors to reduce noise complaints. C949 is expected to start operations in 2049.