When an airplane is landing, air pressure builds up between the plane and the ground. Ground effects are fairly well understood for conventional airplanes, but little is known about how they would affect a radically different aircraft such as a future supersonic passenger jet. To understand more about this phenomenon, researchers will perform tests on the Tu-144LL, which has a wing shape similar to that envisioned for the future supersonic passenger jet. Researchers hope to learn how airflow over the surface of the fuselage generates noise inside the passenger cabin and thereby design efficient means to reduce the noise level. It's an important consideration in the design of a future supersonic passenger jet.
Aerodynamic drag is a critical factor in the design of a future supersonic passenger jet.
Measurements of pressures, skin friction and other aerodynamic characteristics on the wing of the Tu-144LL will enable researchers to calibrate their computational tools to better predict and improve the performance of future supersonic passenger aircraft. Future supersonic aircraft will fly at an altitude of 65,000 feet, at more than twice the speed of sound. The engines on this aircraft will be radically different from current jet engines. To understand more about the special requirements of these future engines, researchers will conduct experiments on a Tu-144 engine using a ground test stand. These experiments will provide invaluable engine airflow data for the designers of future large supersonic engines.