The Concorde was that beautiful dream that could have ended better (Better not talking about the Tu144). After more than 25 years of supersonic flights, the Concorde was retired in 2003 and since then, nothing like it has ever been seen on airways. But it is time.
Let’s look at what is going on.
Possibly the most known option of this time is Boom Supersonic. Their plane, meant to be the fastest jet airliner is called Overture and wants to be an accessible supersonic jet with a capacity for up to 88 passengers, cruising altitude of 60,000 ft and what is most important: 100% carbon-free.
But what is the problem behind all of this?
Well, if you have ever gone to any airshow you may have seen the fighters breaching through the speed barer, there is the problem, the sonic boom is a huge amount of air compressing and creating friction which goes against performance and then, reduces the economic profit. Well, if you have ever gone to any airshow you may have seen the fighters breaching through the speed barer, there is the problem, the sonic boom is a huge amount of air compressing and creating friction which goes against performance and then, reduces the economic profit.
However, solutions are on the hunt. For example, Lockheed-Martin’s Skunk Works (The creators of the well-known SR71 Blackbird) have designed an experimental aircraft meant to decrease drastically the sonic boom, the X-59 QueSST which could provide technological solutions for commercial jets. It is planned to first fly in 2022.
Since the Boom Supersonic proposal is the unique one for a “tourist” class passenger, more ideas have been launched for private business jets, such as the Aerion SBJ or Spike S-512 with capacity for 12 and 18 respectively. Keep dreaming, gotta be rich to fit in one of those.
After all, supersonic seems to be the future in airways but anyone who wants to take the reins will have a great heritage to beat, and huge troubles if wanteed to be “economical”.