Of course, we all know that there is one little problem with super-sonic flight: the sonic boom.

FORBES: Is The Next Boom In Travel A Sonic Boom From Boeing?

An article in the aforementioned issue of Discover magazine highlights another very intrigue research program that has been underway for some time: super-sonic flight.

FORBES: Is The Next Boom In Travel A Sonic Boom From Boeing?

"We considered over 30 designs and believe that the QSST is the only design that meets all the desired requirements including range, take-off and landing field length, take-off noise, emissions and sufficiently low sonic boom characteristics to enable supersonic flight over land, " he told CNN.

CNN: Bang goes the sonic boom

That is critical for flying over America, where supersonic flight is banned because of the noise pollution created by sonic booms.

ECONOMIST: Business jets