Low Boom Study Contract Awarded

The NASA-Langley Flight Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, awarded the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works a study contract on 11 June 2014 for additional low sonic boom technology work. The new study’s aim is to mature the design concept for a Low Boom Flight Demonstrator, or LBFD, aircraft. The LBFD design was developed under NASA’s Structures, Materials, Aerodynamics, Aerothermodynamics, and Acoustics Research and Technology, or SMAAART, program previous concept formulation study contract. The LBFD program is tasked with developing a manned, low sonic boom demonstrator that will be used to conduct sonic boom community testing. The eventual goal is to develop federal regulations governing acceptable sonic boom levels.