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A New Supersonic Passenger Jet on the Horizon
Five years ago, the famed Concorde supersonic jet made its final flight. Most people thought that when the final French-designed craft set down, it would be the last anyone would hear about supersonic passenger jets for a long time. But one American company is making big and brash talk about its Concorde-like craft, which could be in the air in 2012 and ready to carry passengers by 2015. The Aerion Supersonic Jet will not be as large or spectacular as the Concorde. But the manufacturer claims that it will be able to travel at mach 1.6, a velocity that will allow it to reach New York from London in 3 hours.
It wasn't lack of speed that killed the Concorde, though. It was high operating costs. A spokesman for Aerion claims that new technology can keep the cost of flying at supersonic speeds from overwhelming airlines and operators:
"Concorde was a beautiful machine and a product of its time, but technology has moved forward and new designs such as the Aerion jet offer greater efficiency. Concorde was withdrawn due to high operating cost, which Aerion technology has successfully overcome." The company has already received 50 orders for the plane, which will retail for more than $70 million.
[Via The Daily Mail]
Filed under: Transportation, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jim Oct 27th 2008 2:07PM
Anglo-French designed, and how many times do you need telling at Gadling to stop reading the damn Daily Mail.
Thanh T. Oct 28th 2008 8:58AM
Interesting article-New supersonic jets?
An American company is planning on building new supersonic jets-(The Aerion Supersonic Jet, an aircraft similar to Concorde.)
Interesting, even if a company’s vision is to build supersonic jets for commercial flights, often times the process may take years-to train the right employees to build and maintain it...
I think many would agree; Concorde is among the most stunning aircrafts ever designed. Concorde’s turbojets were specifically designed for high performance efficiency.
It will be interesting to learn about the new technologies and cost effective approaches that are being developed by today’s aircraft manufactures. (Limiting weight, night vision scanners, collision alert systems, stronger tires, fuel efficient injectors, alternative flex fuel engines etc…)
Very interesting article.