JAXA's S4 Supersonic Low-Boom Airliner – A Collaborative Study on Aircraft Design, Sonic Boom Simulation, and Market Prospects

Abstract

In this work, the design methodologies and technical rationales for the design of JAXA’s low-boom S4 (System integration of Silent SuperSonic airplane technologies) airliner are detailed with a focus on aerodynamic engine-airframe integration with respect to efficiency and sonic-boom abatement, respectively. The approach to high-fidelity CFD grid generation, flow simulation, and signature propagation for sonic boom assessment is explained, resulting in sonic-boom data maps with respect to flight physics parameters. Thereafter, DLR inserts the aircraft in operational scenarios for supersonic overland prohibition and permission, respectively, based on forecasted origin-destination passenger demand. Overwater flight routes are designed for the restrictive scenario, and the S4’s flight performance data are used to simulate flight missions on all routes, yielding flight durations. Eventually, the respective market sizes for S4-type airliners are estimated and discussed.