New concorde
The Concorde! A supersonic jet that was a marvel of engineering and a symbol of luxury and innovation. While there are no plans to build a new Concorde, there have been some recent developments and proposals to revive the concept of supersonic commercial flight. Here are a few updates:
- Boom Supersonic: In 2017, Boom Supersonic, a US-based company, unveiled its Overture supersonic jet, which is designed to carry 55 passengers and cruise at Mach 2.2 (around 1,451 mph). The company has received significant funding and has begun testing its prototype.
- Aerion AS2: Aerion, a US-based company, is developing the AS2, a supersonic business jet that can carry 12 passengers and cruise at Mach 1.4 (around 955 mph). The company has received significant funding and has begun testing its prototype.
- X-59 QueSST: NASA is currently developing the X-59 QueSST, a supersonic aircraft designed to reduce sonic booms to a level that is barely perceptible to the human ear. The aircraft is expected to be tested in the early 2020s.
- Supersonic flight revival: In 2020, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to revisit its rules for supersonic flight, which were last updated in the 1970s. This could pave the way for new supersonic aircraft to be certified for commercial use.
While these developments are exciting, it's worth noting that supersonic flight is a complex and challenging field, and there are many technical, regulatory, and environmental hurdles to overcome before supersonic commercial flight can become a reality again.
Some of the challenges include:
- Noise: Supersonic flight produces sonic booms, which can be a disturbance to people on the ground. New technologies are being developed to reduce the noise, but it's still a significant challenge.
- Fuel efficiency: Supersonic flight is inherently less fuel-efficient than subsonic flight, which means that supersonic aircraft will need to be designed with more efficient engines and aerodynamics.
- Environmental impact: Supersonic flight produces more emissions and noise than subsonic flight, which raises concerns about its environmental impact.
- Regulatory framework: The regulatory framework for supersonic flight is still evolving, and there are many questions about how to certify and operate supersonic aircraft safely and efficiently.
Despite these challenges, many experts believe that supersonic flight will eventually become a reality again, and that new technologies and innovations will help to overcome the hurdles.