Effects of lengthwise lift distribution on sonic boom of SST configurations

Sonic Boom signatures produced by possible SST configurations during cruise were investigated. It is shown that optimization based on a far field analysis is not necessarily the optimum for these conditions. For an airplane length of 300 ft, near-field effects can be obtained when sufficient lift is generated near the nose of the airplane. Because of the near-field effects, sonic booms with maximum overpressures of the order of 1 lb/square foot can be obtained with possible airplane configurations having the same flight conditions at cruise.