A possible future for supersonic civil aviation

Civil aviation has transformed greatly in the last century, forever changing the way humanity lives and works, bringing people closer and connecting the entire world. While traveling thousands of kilometers in a few hours is now considered normal, doing the same at the speed of sound is still a dream. The MORE&LESS project – funded by the European Horizon 2020 program and coordinated by PoliTO Professor Nicole Viola from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) – has worked in recent years to examine the impact of supersonic aviation on the environment, to try and turn the dream into reality.

Thanks to a multidisciplinary approach – which brings together many different fields of research, such as aerodynamics, propulsion, aeroacoustics, combustion, integrated mission/aircraft design, and, as mentioned, environmental impact – this international project has covered the entire supersonic speed supply chain and the most promising aircraft configurations, the most innovative propulsion technologies, and alternative fuels.

Aiming to present the project results, on June 18th, the PoliTO Hub in Brussels hosted a discussion among universities, research centers, companies, and representatives of the European Commission (CINEA and ERCEA) on the topic of civil supersonic flight in Europe, in the presence of Professor Mariachiara Zanetti, PoliTO Vice Rector for Local, National and European Affairs.

Intense experimental activity, combined with numerical modeling and simulation, has allowed scientific experts to successfully interact with political decision-makers and regulatory bodies engaged in defining new standards for the operation of the future generation of civil supersonic aircraft. Europe's competitiveness in the aerospace sector grows through these research projects and regains a crucial role in national, European, and international political agendas.