NFL looks to supersonic jets in bid to expand league to Europe

The National Football League is monitoring the progress of supersonic commercial aviation as part of its long-range planning for potential expansion into Europe, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper said the league has taken an interest in new aircraft programs and the possibility of faster transatlantic travel, which could ease the logistical challenges that have long complicated the idea of placing a team across the Atlantic. 

The Journal reported that supersonic travel is not a short-term requirement for the league, but officials are watching the sector closely as aircraft manufacturers and technology companies move forward with designs aimed at reducing travel times on long-haul routes. The report said the NFL believes faster travel could help support more consistent scheduling and reduce strain on teams that would face frequent cross-Atlantic trips. 

The concept of placing an NFL team in Europe has surfaced often in recent years, driven by the league’s growing international fan base and the success of regular-season games in London, Frankfurt and other cities. The Journal said the idea has broadened to include the possibility of an entire division located in Europe, although the league has given no formal timeline and has described the discussions as exploratory. 

Supersonic commercial travel has been limited since the retirement of Concorde in 2003, in part because of a longstanding Federal Aviation Administration ban on overland supersonic flight. That rule prevents aircraft from flying faster than Mach 1 over the continental United States, restricting where future supersonic jets can operate and limiting their potential efficiency for airlines and high-end charter operators. 

Congress is now moving to change that framework. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced legislation that would direct federal regulators to develop a modern certification and noise standard for civilian supersonic aircraft. Supporters say the rule change would allow the United States to regain leadership in high-speed flight and open new opportunities for manufacturers developing next-generation designs. 

Backers of the bill have said they expect broad support in both the House and Senate. Lawmakers argue that technological progress in engine design and aerodynamic shaping could allow future supersonic aircraft to meet necessary noise levels, including during flights over land. The legislation would still require operators to comply with any noise limits set during certification, but it would remove the blanket prohibition on overland flight that has been in place for more than 50 years. Several companies are now pursuing commercial or military supersonic aircraft, led by Boom Supersonic, which is developing the 60-80 seat Overture airliner and has already flown its XB-1 demonstrator beyond the speed of sound. In the business jet arena, Spike Aerospace continues work on its low-boom S-512 design, aimed at high-speed corporate travel. Startups such as Exosonic are targeting quieter supersonic transports using advanced shaping and materials. On the government side, NASA and Lockheed Martin are flight-testing the X-59 quiet-supersonic demonstrator to gather data that could support new noise regulations. Other defense and aerospace companies worldwide, including major engine manufacturers, are also studying technologies for future high-speed designs as interest in reduced transoceanic travel times grows.

The X-59 completed its first flight recently, marking a milestone in NASA’s effort to collect data that could support future supersonic regulation changes. The aircraft is designed to generate a quieter sonic signature during supersonic flight, allowing the agency to study how communities respond to reduced-noise booms. 

NASA plans to use the X-59 to conduct acoustic flights over several US cities beginning in 2026. The agency will share the results with regulators as they evaluate updated noise standards that could inform future rules for commercial supersonic operations. The post NFL looks to supersonic jets in bid to expand league to Europe appeared first on AeroTime.

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