New concorde plane
The Concorde! A legendary supersonic jet that was retired in 2003. While there are no plans to build a new Concorde plane, there are ongoing efforts to develop new supersonic aircraft that can potentially fill the gap left by the Concorde's retirement. Here are some updates:
- Boom Supersonic: A US-based company, Boom Supersonic, is developing a new supersonic aircraft called Overture. The plane is designed to travel at speeds up to Mach 2.2 (around 1,451 mph or 2,335 km/h), with a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,200 km). The company has received significant funding and has begun testing its prototype.
- Aerion AS2: Another US-based company, Aerion, is developing a supersonic business jet called the AS2. The plane is designed to travel at speeds up to Mach 1.4 (around 955 mph or 1,539 km/h), with a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,200 km). The company has received significant funding and has begun testing its prototype.
- X-59 QueSST: NASA is developing a supersonic X-plane called the X-59 QueSST (Quiet Supersonic Technology). The plane is designed to reduce sonic booms to a level that is barely perceptible to the human ear. The X-59 is expected to fly at speeds up to Mach 1.4 (around 955 mph or 1,539 km/h).
- Spike Aerospace S-512: A US-based company, Spike Aerospace, is developing a supersonic business jet called the S-512. The plane is designed to travel at speeds up to Mach 1.6 (around 1,100 mph or 1,770 km/h), with a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km).
While these new supersonic aircraft are promising, there are still significant technical, regulatory, and environmental challenges to overcome before they can enter commercial service. Additionally, the Concorde's retirement was largely due to rising maintenance costs, declining demand, and environmental concerns, so it's unclear whether a new supersonic plane can overcome these challenges.