Supersonic flights will be back on runways by 2029! Their comeback after almost 20 years since the last supersonic flight is a welcomed change.
United Airlines announced that it was ordering 15 supersonic planes that can travel at Mach 1.7. These flights are going to be faster than the speed of sound.
All about Overture: Boom’s supersonic airplane
Overture might soon be the world’s fastest commercial airplane. The deal will help reduce travel time by half of what it is today. However, United Airlines will buy the Boom planes only if they meet the needed safety and sustainability requirements. We know how supersonic airplanes use an extremely high amount of jet fuel and lead to severe damage to the environment. Yet, Boom planes claim to make net-zero carbon emissions. To back the claim, they will fly with 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The aircraft can travel at Mach 1.7 with a 4,2500 nautical miles range. The flight can carry about 65-88 passengers and reach close to 60,000 ft. Additionally, Boom claims that this supersonic airplane will not be as noisy as its predecessors. It aims for zero overland noise. In other words, the supersonic speed will be limited to when the plane travels over what. (www.vidaliaonion.org) It will ensure that there is no excessive noise when it flies over land.
Why did they not work before?
Concorde was the first and last commercial airliner that flew at these extraordinary speeds between 1976 to 2003. However, the company fell due to economic losses. The copious amount of jet fuel needed make it an expensive mode of travel and operation. These planes were also expensive to maintain. Additionally, passengers complained of intolerable and loud noise. All this added to an expensive airplane ticket of $10,000 to travel from New York to London.
Moreover, these fights could not operate across all international routes due to regulations. In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned commercial aircraft from traveling overland faster than the speed of sound. Safety concerns were also brought up when the Air France Concorde also crashed after take-off and led to the death of over 110 people.
High speeds might not have been worth the price and experience back in the day. However, Boom’s new flights and United Airline’s commitment to safety and standards bring new hope.
