China Unveils COMAC C949: A Long-Range Supersonic Jet to Rival Concorde

BEIJING- Chinese state-owned aerospace company COMAC has revealed plans for the C949, a supersonic airliner that promises to fly farther and more quietly than the retired Concorde. This new aircraft signals China’s ambition to lead in high-speed air travel technology.

The jet will have a 50% longer range (11,000 kilometers compared to Concorde’s 7,200 kilometers) while producing only one-twentieth of Concorde’s thunderous sonic boom. The noise level will reach just 83.9 Perceived Level in decibels (PLdB), similar to a hairdryer!

Photo Compiled by Aviation A2Z

Advanced Features of the C949

COMAC engineers, led by award-winning aerodynamicist Wu Dawei, published details in the journal Acta Aeronautica Sinica on March 14. The C949 aims to achieve two major improvements over the Concorde:

1. Noise Reduction- This noise reduction could help overcome regulations that have banned supersonic flights over land since the Concorde era.
2. Longer Range- The jet will have a 50% longer range than the Concorde.

Design

The C949’s design includes several innovative elements:

1. A shape-shifting fuselage with a curved “reverse-camber” midsection weakens shock waves and delays their transition into sonic booms.
2. The long, needle-like nose splits the leading shock wave into three gentler pulses.
3. Special aerodynamic bulges near the engines scatter exhaust turbulence to reduce the trailing boom.
4. The aircraft will need an artificial intelligence-powered control system to manage complex aerodynamics at high speeds.

Engineering

The plane features a dynamic fuel system that moves 42,000 kilograms of fuel between 7 tanks to balance the aircraft during flight. Twin adaptive-cycle turbofan engines will power the jet, allowing it to cruise at Mach 1.6 in “low-boom” mode or Mach 1.7 in “eco” mode at 16,000 meters altitude.

“COMAC claims the take-off noise meets international standards, making it suitable for urban airports“

Market Potential

The C949 is designed to carry between 28 and 48 passengers in business-class style seating. With its extended range, the jet could fly from Shanghai (PVG) to Los Angeles (LAX) in about five hours!

Wu’s team estimates potential supersonic passengers could reach 45 million annually—approximately 1% of global air passengers. Initially, the aircraft would fly trans-Pacific routes over oceans to minimize noise concerns.

Air China C919; Photo: boretjackson, X User

Project Timeline and Challenges

COMAC has set 2049 as the target service entry date for the C949, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

This timeline follows planned launches of other COMAC aircraft: the C929 twin-aisle airliner by 2027 and the 400-seat C939 by 2039.

Photo: Boom Supersonic

Despite impressive technical specifications, the project faces significant challenges. Fuel efficiency must be considerably higher than Concorde’s to make operations economical.

Additionally, COMAC must overcome lingering public concerns about supersonic travel safety, particularly following the Concorde’s fatal Paris crash in 2000.

The C949 represents China’s quiet but ambitious entry into the global race to revive supersonic passenger travel, competing with NASA’s X-59 program and private ventures like Boom Supersonic.

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