超音速客机降噪技术迈出关键一步
A recent test flight has pushed the dream of quiet supersonic travel another step forward. An experimental aircraft, designed to soften the sonic boom, achieved both the speed and altitude needed for future passenger flights. During the trial, it flew faster than sound and reached a typical cruise level, proving it can operate efficiently in the thin air where commercial planes fly. This milestone suggests that supersonic jets could one day carry passengers over land without causing disruptive noise.
一次最近的试飞将安静超音速飞行的梦想又向前推进了一步。一架旨在减弱音爆的实验飞机，达到了未来客运航班所需的速度和高度。在试验中，它飞得比声音更快，并达到了典型的巡航高度，证明了其能在商业飞机飞行的稀薄空气中高效运行。这一里程碑表明，超音速喷气式飞机有朝一日或许能载运乘客飞越陆地而不会造成干扰性的噪音。
The loud sonic boom has long been the biggest obstacle to supersonic travel over populated areas. When an airplane breaks the sound barrier, it generates shockwaves that merge into a sharp explosion-like noise on the ground. In the past, this problem limited famous aircraft like the Concorde to routes over the ocean. High costs and noise complaints finally led to the Concorde’s retirement in 2003, leaving air travelers without a faster option for more than two decades.
巨大的音爆长期以来一直是人口稠密地区进行超音速飞行的最大障碍。当飞机突破音障时，会产生激波，这些激波在地面合并成类似爆炸的尖锐噪音。过去，这一问题限制了协和号等著名飞机的航线，使其只能飞越海洋。高昂的成本和噪音投诉最终导致协和号于2003年退役，此后二十多年间，航空旅客再无更快的选择。
Inspired by Scientific American reporting · Rewritten by Vocabsavvy · Vocabsavvy Original (inspired-by attribution)