
The invention of air travel was a breakthrough in human history that provided a new means of travel and a testament to achieving the impossible. In this context, several innovations in air travel were made to reduce flight time while also improving comfort. This is perfect for adrenaline lovers looking to cut short on their travel time while enjoying regular sonic booms and fantastic views of the Earth.
But how do you know if you are an adrenaline-seeker by your nature? Well, when you read interviews or listen to podcasts from professionals who dedicated their careers to adrenaline sports, you see where the passion comes from. The adventurous website of Team Ignition has so much content about people who hike, jump, dive, and so on. Understanding their passion helps to define our nature as adrenaline seekers and answer the question – should we wait for the next supersonic aircraft, or can it be too much for many of us?
For adrenaline seekers, the wait might be worth it to experience a new form of air travel. In this blog, we are going to look at whether commercial supersonic aircraft will return all while exploring high-adrenaline planes like Concorde that are being developed by other supersonic companies.
Concorde: A Legacy Of High-Speed Ambition
The Concorde was the first step in humanity’s creation of supersonic air travel. It had a top speed of up to 1354 mph with an altitude of over 60,000 feet which was way higher than normal aircraft standards.
At first, air travel was designed to maximize comfort, but with the rise in demand for faster logistics, supersonic aircraft made its way toward commercial flights. The Concorde completely redefined air travel until its retirement in 2003 by reaching levels of Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound.
The reason behind Concorde’s halt was the high fuel costs and high ticket prices associated with it. This means only wealthy passengers could afford to get onto the plane thereby limiting its demand. Moreover, the noise pollution coming from its sonic booms restricted routes that were over the ocean. But recent advancements and a renewed interest in high-speed travel have opened up the possibility for these supersonic jets to come back.
Technological Advancements: Lessons From Military Aviation
Even though commercial supersonic flight has been silent for a while since 2003, military aviation still hasn’t stopped with its innovations in bringing forward new aircraft for speed. Many fighter jets developed by the military and showcased in special aircraft auctions such as the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and F-22 Raptor show the possibility of supersonic aerodynamics. They are made with titanium alloys that can withstand a large amount of heat produced by friction and speed from the journey.
This has also led other supersonic flight companies to take notes to start prepping aircraft for faster travel. They are using carbon composite materials and advanced fuel-efficient engines to solve the problems caused by Concorde when it was airborne. NASA has also put forward its own set of innovations such as variable bypass ratio engines and reduced sonic boom designs, including NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology, to make supersonic flights more quieter and efficient.
Rising Demand For High-Speed Travel
Since the world is becoming more connected globally, the need for high-speed travel is getting higher than ever before. This demand was already at its peak upon the launch of the Concorde, where over 2.5 million passengers have flown supersonically in the Concorde since 1976. It’s more about the sonic boom experience that customers wanted to have; each passenger of the Concorde was presented with a certificate to prove that they had broken the sound barrier.
We can expect to see high-speed aircraft on prominent long routes like New York to London or Tokyo to Los Angeles since the time saved on these places directly translates to economic value. Boom Supersonic has gone on to even claim that they could get passengers from New York to London in 3.5 hours, Tokyo to Seattle in 4.5 hours and Miami to London in less than five hours.
The Supporters Of SuperSonic Travel
Other than rising international demand, supersonic flight companies such as Boom Supersonic, Spike Aerospace, Exosonic, and Hermeus are working towards putting high-speed travel back on the list. American Airlines had already placed an order for 20 Overture jets from Boom that are expected to be produced in 2025 and ready to fly in 2029.
All these developments are put forward with the challenges caused by the Concorde in mind, which is to achieve net carbon zero and provide affordable tickets. Boom has gone on to claim that once the Overture aircraft are fully developed and deployed, each ticket might only cost the same as today’s business class prices. The investments are also flowing in that will boost the supersonic jet market value to $32.91 billion by 2030.
The dream of supersonic air travel is becoming more closer to reality as the year starts. The lessons from Concorde are being put into practical use as companies aim for more affordable and sustainable supersonic travel with support from countries and technology.