Wyle has been a leader in the measurement, assessment, and modeling of sonic booms since the mid-1970’s. We have been instrumental in developing key models for the prediction of sonic boom from military and commercial aircraft, as well as spacecraft launches.
We are also assessing the NAS-wide sonic boom impacts of advanced supersonic vehicles under NextGen. These vehicles employ shaped low-boom technology and are modeled according to future operational concepts planned under the NextGen Concept of Operations (ConOps).
Some of Wyle’s notable achievements in sonic boom research and analysis include:
- Wyle received a NASA "Turning Goals Into Reality" award for its role in the DARPA/NASA Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration program, which proved that sonic boom impact can be reduced by properly shaping an aircraft.
- Development of the PCBoom sonic boom model for the U.S. Air Force.
- Successful performance of multiple EIS/EA studies for supersonic military operations.
- Modeling support for the NASA X-33 single stage-to-orbit launch vehicle.
- Development of the FOBOOM superboom prediction method for NASA.
- Evaluation of potential damage to unconventional structures by sonic booms.
- Social survey studies to establish the community response to sonic booms.
- Noise impact during the supersonic and rocket phases for the SRAM II launch vehicle for the U.S. Army.
- Exploratory study of the potential effects of exposure to sonic boom on human health.