How do supersonic wings work?
These aircraft are typically long, slender, and pointed, with wings that are swept back at an angle. The pointed nose of a supersonic jet is designed to minimize the shock waves that form as air is compressed around the aircraft. As an aircraft flies at supersonic speeds it is continually generating shock waves, dropping sonic boom along its flight path, similar to someone dropping objects from a moving vehicle. From the perspective of the aircraft, the boom appears to be swept backwards as it travels away from the aircraft.
Why can’t Concorde fly over land?
November 22, 2013 — As incredible as the Concorde was, the sonic booms created by its supersonic flights were so disruptive that most countries restricted or completely prohibited the aircraft from flying over land. The sonic boom, at its worst, would be heard as a very loud thunder clap that was right overhead. Commercial supersonic flight over the United States was banned in 1973 in response to complaints regarding the boom produced by aircraft flying faster than Mach 1. These sonic booms have been known to cause property damage, especially windows, as well as temporary and, in extreme cases, permanent hearing loss.The strongest sonic boom ever recorded was 144 pounds per square foot and it did not cause injury to the researchers who were exposed to it.