News Forum - Will there ever be another Concorde?

[Thaiger]

We’d flown in propeller-powered planes, then jets. Supersonic was the next evolutionary step in flying people around the world as the 1960s came to a close. Now, 52 years after Concorde’s early flights supersonic flight is, again, an aviation pipe dream as we pack into our cheap ‘flying buses’ which are not much different from the first successful commercial jets that first flew in the 1950s. Materials have changed a bit, but the seats have become smaller, service almost vanished and the experience a lot less enjoyable. Does anyone really look forward to a flight on a modern plane anymore? (OK, […]

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[Jason]

Nice article Tim! You're obviously a Concorde affecionado. It was a spaceage design. Rather like taking a trip on a fighter jet, without the barrel rolls!

[billywillyjones]

 I had the opportunity to climb aboard the Concorde as a young man when Francois Mitterand was still President...very small inside and a long cylindrical fuselage and very claustrophobic in my opinion but still an amazing plane particularly for the time.

[Cathat]

It's fairly unlikely for the masses but people continue to look at super sonic business jets.

The emphasis is on fuel burn reduction for many reasons.

The next generation of public transport aircraft will probably be twin engine aircraft that cruise at about Mach .9 possibly .95 with greatly reduced fuel burn,that is what the people who sign the big cheques want.

I think large supersonic public transport aircraft will be skipped and the next big step for the masses will be sub orbital flights but it will not be anytime soon.

[JamesR]

Ozzie Land will make the next Concorde in a round about way.

It will continue to ship minerals to China including iron ore and the Chinese will build the next super jet and then sell it back to Oz and the West. 

 

[palooka]

3 hours ago, JamesR said:

Ozzie Land will make the next Concorde in a round about way.

It will continue to ship minerals to China including iron ore and the Chinese will build the next super jet and then sell it back to Oz and the West. 

Nah the Chinese will have another dummy spit and refuse to sell them to Oz.

[Rookiescot]

The target audience for Concord was rich businessmen crossing the Atlantic to make huge deals.

Along came the internet and conference calls. Now those guys no longer have to leave their office to make the same deals.

[TimothyN]

3 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

The target audience for Concord was rich businessmen crossing the Atlantic to make huge deals.

Along came the internet and conference calls. Now those guys no longer have to leave their office to make the same deals.

That's a really good point. Covid has accelerated so many micro changes. So much travel simply won't be necessary in the future as internet speeds make calls better, clearer, etc etc

[Cabra]

United Airlines has announced it will purchase up to 50 Boom Overture supersonic jets for commercial use by 2029, marking the return of supersonic passenger flights

[Pinetree]

Not in several lifetimes.  The need for ultra fast air transport  and the economics of flying in them, diminishes by the month  as new digital technology reduces the need for business travel. Not economic, not environmentally sensible and technologically too complex.  

[palooka]

22 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

The target audience for Concord was rich businessmen crossing the Atlantic to make huge deals.

Along came the internet and conference calls. Now those guys no longer have to leave their office to make the same deals.

Many still did the trip for whatever reason, ego, get out of the office, go see the girlfriend etc.,  The huge tax write off also helped. 

Covid may have put a stop to a lot of it and the requirements of travel will be less as you say, conference calls virtually face to face, documents can be IT signed (legally) and companies get more productivity out of their executives.

[Guest1]

Materials have changed a bit, but the seats have become smaller, service almost vanished and the experience a lot less enjoyable

Funny, huu? People become bigger and taller, but the seats keep gettin' smaller.

 

[Guest1]

20 hours ago, TimothyN said:

That's a really good point. Covid has accelerated so many micro changes. So much travel simply won't be necessary in the future as internet speeds make calls better, clearer, etc etc

Forget about that, travel is prestige. In special travel for business! Or do you see, in the politics for ex., the will, to stay home and just "zoom" to conferences? As less people have to pay for trips, as more a company, the tax payer has to, as more the people wanna fly!

it is prestige, business / first class, frequent flyer, ....!

[Rain]

Really?

The world's crumbling at our feet in numerous forms, and a principle concern is to wonder if they'll be another Concorde? 

Hmmm......priorities.