Science: Jet Silencer

Airplane designers are confident that many jet airliners will be flying some day, but they dread the reception they will get from people living near airports. The noise of four or six big jet engines has to be heard to be believed. If not reduced in some way, the noise will drive strong men to desperation for miles around the runways.

United Aircraft Corp., producer of the biggest, most powerful and presumably loudest jet engine, the Pratt & Whitney J-57, is working on ways to reduce its roar to a tolerable level. One method worked...