The magical age of commercial supersonic flight may return and could make a comeback in 2029. And, if new companies like Denver-based "Boom Supersonic" have anything to say about it, the next generation of supersonic commercial aircraft will be faster, more environmentally friendly, and much less sound-invasive than its Concorde predecessor. But is it all "blue skies ahead" for the aircraft that will travel quicker than the speed of sound? Has there been or will there be such a dramatic change in technology that the new aircraft will be permitted to fly over the continental United States for the first time in 60 years? Supersonic flights are so-called because they travel faster than the speed of sound. To do this, the aircraft must break through the sound barrier, which requires an efficient aerodynamic design to reduce drag, and considerable thrust from powerful engines to overcome the turbulence caused by shock waves.

Fast, but not so fast. Lighter and more efficient composite materials, combined with a new engine and airframe designs, may allow the industry to overcome the problems that doomed supersonic air transport in prior years. Like large, dark clouds over the horizon, there are significant legal issues that must be overcome for the new aircraft to have the freedom to fly in the skies above us. Most fundamentally, aircraft manufacturers are seeking to be able to test their aircraft over land in the United States—and ideally operate flights over the United States (e.g., between New York and Los Angeles), but the FAA continues to ban such flights.