NASA's X-59 research jet is designed to travel faster than sound while muffling the resulting sonic boom. The space agency is exploring whether the plane's tech could also apply to future commercial airliners - allowing travellers to cross the Atlantic at speeds greater than 1,500mph.
  • magnetosphere @beehaw.orgEnglish
    4·
    10 months ago

    The planes [Concordes] were grounded in 2003, as operators British Airways and Air France blamed a downturn in demand and increasing maintenance costs.

    Trying to reduce/eliminate the sonic boom is cool, but it won’t solve these problems.

    The Concorde also needed a very long runway. I wonder if they’re looking at that issue, too. That will increase flexibility, and could improve demand.