Hey there – ever wished you could board a plane in San Francisco and land in Tokyo just 90 minutes later for dinner? Or cut that dreary 9 hour slog from New York to London almost in half? Well strap in, because revolutionary new supersonic jets guarantee to make your wildest flight dreams come true!
Now I know what you‘re thinking…hasn‘t this been tried before without much success? Concorde was retired ages ago, and good riddance to those noisy fuel guzzlers. What makes this time any different?
I‘ll answer all those concerns down below, but first, let me catch you up on supersonic principles for those still unfamiliar with hypersonic flight.
Supersonic Flight Basics
- Speed of Sound – at sea level, sound propagates at approximately 767 mph. Also called Mach 1 (M 1.0)
- Transonic – speeds close to the speed of sound, between Mach 0.8 to 1.2
- Supersonic – beyond Mach 1, up to Mach 5
- Hypersonic – exceeds Mach 5
For reference, your typical passenger jet flies subsonically around 500 mph.
As aircraft approach Mach 1, air has trouble smoothly flowing around the airframe. This forms pressure waves emanating as loud sonic booms.
Supersonic planes generate immense skin friction heat, requiring special materials to withstand 1000+ degree temperatures.
What‘s Old is New Again
Supersonic flight for civil aviation effectively ended in 2003 when the iconic Concorde completed its last flight after 27 years ferrying the wealthy elite across the Atlantic in just half the time.
So why didn‘t the Concorde herald a new supersonic era? Ultimately the costs proved prohibitive for airlines with seats too pricey for mainstream travelers.
Other setbacks like high-pollution afterburning engines and noise complaints over land limited viable routes. And a fatal 2000 crash tarnished its once glittering safety reputation.
Today however, a slew of aggressive startups aim to leverage cutting-edge engineering, composite materials, and sustainably designed new aircraft to finally deliver economical supersonic transportation for both wealthy thrill-seekers and business flyers.
Market Outlook
- $4.5+ billion invested in supersonic aircraft startups since 2010
- Airlines express heightened interest in high-value rapid transit
- 4000+ individuals have reserved tickets for space tourism
- Wealthy individuals spur demand for luxury personal jets
Let‘s look at the players aiming for speed…
