United Airlines Wants to Bring Back Supersonic Air Travel

[Nevilledog]

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John FitzGerald
@TheTweetOfJohn
United Airlines said it was ordering 15 jets that can travel faster than the speed of sound from Boom Supersonic, a start-up in Denver. The airline said it had an option to increase its order by up to 35 planes.
A rendering of Boom Supersonic’s plane. United Airlines said Thursday that it had committed to buying 15 planes from the company.

United Airlines Wants to Bring Back Supersonic Air Travel
The airline, which plans to buy planes from Boom Supersonic, a start-up, could become the first to offer ultrafast commercial flights since the Concorde stopped flying in 2003.
nytimes.com
11:22 AM · Jun 3, 2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/business/economy/united-airlines-supersonic-planes.html

The era of supersonic commercial flights came to an end when the Concorde completed its last trip between New York and London in 2003, but the allure of ultrafast air travel never quite died out.

President Biden mused about supersonic flights when discussing his infrastructure plan in April. And on Thursday, United Airlines said it was ordering 15 jets that can travel faster than the speed of sound from Boom Supersonic, a start-up in Denver. The airline said it had an option to increase its order by up to 35 planes.

Boom, which has raised $270 million from venture capital firms and other investors, said it planned to introduce aircraft in 2025 and start flight tests in 2026. It expects the plane, which it calls the Overture, to carry passengers before the end of the decade.

But the start-up’s plans have already slipped at least once, and it will have to overcome many obstacles, including securing approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and regulators in other countries. Even established manufacturers have stumbled when introducing new or redesigned planes. Boeing’s 737 Max was grounded for nearly two years after two crashes.

*snip*

[qazplm135]

1. Good news

You'll spend even less time flying United!

[Disaffected]

2. Really??

"Boom" Supersonic? Is that the sonic boom or the crash boom??

[beaglelover]

3. I'm sure tickets on these flights will be affordable to the average Joe.

Just like the Concorde.

[Klaralven]

8. It may be a way to get private jet users back onto the airlines

Now, plush private jets are preferable to the airliner since you have a higher standard of service and more flexible departure times.

But if the airliner is twice as fast, then on long routes you might get the private jet users back with an "above first class" service. But it will also take special ground services, lounges, parking, security, etc. in order to expedite the passengers' way onto the plane.

[LanternWaste]

13. Just like 1st generation home PCs were.

My fist computer (IBM PC 5150) cost $3000 in 1981. $9,000 in 2020 dollars.

[brooklynite]

15. Not everything is initially priced for the average joe.....

However, implementing the technology allows the price to come down if its successful.

Keep in mind that, in the “golden age” of air travel, subsonic flights weren’t affordable for the average joe either.

[TheRealNorth]

4. Not against Supersonic flight....

But wasn't part of the problem with the Concord was that it guzzled aviation fuel (making it not economically viable as the article says)?

This obviously has environmental concerns too if the plane isn't very efficient.

[Liberal In Texas]

10. Well, we'll see. According to United:

United says Overture will be “optimised to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF), which is also known as biofuel and is produced from biomass such as plants and household waste. The companies have also agreed “to work together to accelerate production of greater supplies of SAF”, United says.

https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/united-to-purchase-15-of-boom-supersonics-overture-financial-commitment-undisclosed/144008.article

[EX500rider]

11. Yeah but the Concorde was designed in the 1960s

I'm guessing 60s years later we can do a better job

[hunter]

5. So long as we are building toys for wealthy people...

... we might as well require them to use carbon neutral fuels.

[Delarage]

6. I was just wondering about that

The Concorde sucked down an unbelievable amount of fuel, IIRC. Thought we were trying to cut carbon?

They should bring back blimps for leisurely travel.

[hunter]

9. Blimps and sailing ships are much less dangerous these days...

... now that we can see rough weather coming.

The world might be a better place if we all slowed down a bit.

Imagine if we all had six weeks of annual vacation and one year off for every nine years we worked.

We'd still be able to leisurely travel the entire world, even at 35 miles per hour.

[Delarage]

17. I read something somewhere

That blimps use very little energy and would actually be good for transporting supplies at least---things that aren't in a rush to get there. Just get the supply line going and they'd work.

[gldstwmn]

7. This is one of my bucket list items.

[hatrack]

12. Boom Supersonic?

Why not just call it "KABLAM! Airlines" or "Air Oops"?

[48656c6c6f20]

14. Boom name was chosen but they had a runner up.

"OH shit we're crashing" They decided it was too long.

[Klaralven]

16. Another issue with the Boeing 2707 project, was concern for the ozone layer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_2707#Environmental_concerns

What is really needed is something with SR-71 speeds.