Maureen O'Hare, CNN • Updated 17th May 2021
Photo: Boom Supersonic Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.htmlSupersonic revival: US startup Boom Supersonic has developed a Mach 2.2 airplane that it says will be three times faster than today's commercial jets.
Accessed: 2021-05-18
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html"We see ourselves as picking up where Concorde left off, and fixing the most important things which are economic and environmental sustainability," says Scholl.
Accessibility is key. His aim is that airlines will be able to set fares at a price point similar to business class -- unlike Concorde, which by the '90s was charging around $12,000 for a round trip, or $20,000 in today's money.
"That's not travel, that's like a thing you might hope to do once in a lifetime," says Scholl, before adding, "Versus where we want to get, which is anywhere in the world in four hours for 100 bucks."
Accessed: 2021-05-18
Photo: Boom Supersonic Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html
Accessed: 2021-05-18
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.htmlHigh speeds: If all goes to plan, the aircraft, which is named Overture and has a price tag of $200 million, could fly from New York to London in three hours and 15 minutes.
Accessed: 2021-05-18
Proof of concept: Boom Supersonic rolled out XB-1, a 1:3 scale prototype of its upcoming supersonic commercial jet Overture, on October 7, 2020.
Photo: Boom Supersonic Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.htmlAccessed: 2021-05-18
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.htmlThe major obstacle is that "beyond just accomplishing the speed, it generates a ferocious amount of heat. Any conventional engine that you put together would melt." What will be needed is further advances in material science -- and it's dependent on further invention or discovery.
While it's feasible, O'Keefe reckons "it's going to require two or three generations of technology, development and breakthrough -- which equates to about 20 years."
Interest in Boom's project has been high. A couple of weeks ago, Scholl addressed the US House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Aviation and in April American Express Ventures was the latest high-profile investor to open its wallet. Boom says it currently has $6 billion in pre-orders of Overture aircraft.
Boom's hottest competitor in the supersonic race is Florida-based Aerion, which in March 2021 unveiled its plans for a Mach 4+ commercial airliner called Aerion AS3 which would be capable of carrying 50 passengers.
Accessed: 2021-05-18
Photo: Boom Supersonic Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html
Accessed: 2021-05-18