50 people? How is that cheaper? Concorde held only 99 people and it was expensive. Imagine spreading your costs out to 50 people.
Also, supersonic flight for civilian aircraft is limited to oceanic airspace. Supersonic flight over land is restricted to the military and then only in very specific air space.
Edit: I’ve been supersonic 3 times over land. Pilot training in the T-38A, Red Flag in the F-111E, and Desert Storm coming out of Iraq at mach 1.4 also in the F-111E. Going super over the North Sea was fairly common and perfectly legal. I always wondered if some fishermen were cussing me for the noise.
[This message has been edited by Hudini (edited 10-09-2020).]
50 people? How is that cheaper? Concorde held only 99 people and it was expensive. Imagine spreading your costs out to 50 people.
Also, supersonic flight for civilian aircraft is limited to oceanic airspace. Supersonic flight over land is restricted to the military and then only in very specific air space.
I watched the video of those people trying to explain the rationale' for it all and I was left wondering the same thing.
They're definitely NOT going to be doing New York to L.A. runs supersonic, so it's still the same long haul transoceanic business model.
Civilians flying supersonic was the novelty of the Concorde but the major complaint, and the chief cause of it's ultimate demise, was due to capacity and the expense as a result of that.
I don't think the young folks involved in that venture have really thought out the financial aspect well enough.
Maybe the XB-1 builders are hoping for approval of LA - NY routes.
Stranger things have happened. Remember the company LightSquared? They wanted to use frequencies that are next to GPS frequencies to build a 5g network. For 10 years they were denied by the FCC. In April the FCC finally approved the plan by the company under their new name Ligado.
It just makes you wonder if the builders know something they aren’t letting on about.
Most aircraft builders are lobbying to get the law that prohibits supersonic flight over the United States. The law specifically states Supersonic flight but was actually put in place to stop the sonic boom from being destructive and annoying US cities. It is the wording they want changed. Companies have been researching ways to increase speed past the sound barrier and keep it quiet (see Gulfstream's Quiet Spike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Spike). Once the legislation changes you will see the reemergence of Supersonic flight.
Originally posted by ARFiero: ... The law specifically states Supersonic flight but was actually put in place to stop the sonic boom from being destructive and annoying US cities. It is the wording they want changed. Companies have been researching ways to increase speed past the sound barrier and keep it quiet.
I was thinking along similar lines. I read something a while back, that kind of alluded to this.
50 people? How is that cheaper? Concorde held only 99 people and it was expensive.
Manufacturing the Overture will be cheaper as its materials cost is less. Carbon fiber is less than titanium/ fewer parts, no drooping nose, less mechanicals to operate the craft. As its carbon fiber and doesn't use afterburners, it will be cheaper. Its engines are more efficient. Overture only uses 3 engines. A smaller frame-- again burns less fuel. Fewer maintenance costs/ No corrosion (Composites are plastic, not metal) and savings will add up over time.
The cost of operation is less than Concorde. Technology has also brought costs down. Funding has also been met: JAL, Delta and several other airlines have already signed on with orders for the craft.
A feature of the Overture is the lessening (or elimination) of the "sonic boom" associated with the Concorde. (we will see about that)
And finally: Fares are expected to be about 5K, much less that Concorde, too. Operation over land can be at "high sonic" speeds, (Think Boeings canceled "sonic Cruiser")
[This message has been edited by htexans1 (edited 10-11-2020).]
There is a famous saying attributed to Sir Richard Branson: Do you want to know how to become a millionaire in the airline business? Well you take a billion dollars and start an airline....
