Why don't they build a new Concorde?


Why don't they build a new Concorde? Critics said the Concorde was too expensive, too elitist, and much too noisy. Blake Scholl: It wasn't that the technology didn't work. It was that the economics didn't work. It was simply too expensive for enough people to afford to fly.


Is Concorde being revived?

While we probably won't see Concorde flying again, there are strong prospects for the return of supersonic flight in the commercial realm. Several companies across the continents have been researching and developing concepts to reintroduce rapid operations to our skies.


How many mph is supersonic?

Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that is faster than the speed of sound, measured at about 768 miles per hour at sea level. Supersonic speed is one of the four “regimes of flight” (subsonic, transonic, supersonic, hypersonic).


Is anyone building a new Concorde?

But that hasn't stopped many aviation geeks from calling the new Boom supersonic aircraft Concorde 2.0, although the plane will officially be known under the name 'Overture'. Boom Supersonic's Overture plane is slated to roll out in 2025, fly in 2026 and expected to carry passengers by 2029.


How much did a Concorde ticket cost?

Such speed didn't come cheap, though: A transatlantic flight required the high-maintenance aircraft to gulp jet fuel at the rate of one ton per seat, and the average round-trip price was $12,000.


How much faster was the Concorde?

About Concorde With a take-off speed of 220 knots (250mph) and a cruising speed of 1350mph – more than twice the speed of sound - a typical London to New York crossing would take a little less than three and a half hours, as opposed to about eight hours for a subsonic flight.


Why was the Concorde so fast?

Concorde used the most powerful pure jet engines flying commercially. The Aircraft's four engines took advantage of what is known as 'reheat' technology, adding fuel to the final stage of the engine, which produced the extra power required for take-off and the transition to supersonic flight.


Is there a new plane faster than the Concorde?

No manufacturer has yet been able to recreate the days of the Concorde, but some are trying. Denver-based Boom Supersonic is leading the pack with its faster-than-sound Overture jet, already securing over 100 orders from United Airlines, Japan Airlines, and American Airlines.


Could Concorde outrun a fighter jet?

Over the Irish sea and rapidly running out of fuel the Tornado had a hard time catching up with the mighty Concorde. Over more than a hundred miles or so, 5–10 minutes the Concord could outrun every fighter.


How quickly could the Concorde cross the Atlantic?

Concorde's fastest transatlantic crossing was on 7 February 1996 when it completed the New York to London flight in 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds. Concorde measured nearly 204ft in length and stretched between 6 and 10 inches in flight due to heating of the airframe.


Did Concorde ever make a profit?

BA never suffered a serious accident with its seven strong fleet. Concorde service was profitable by the late 1980s and if not for the economic downturn and Air France Concorde crash of 2000, may have survived to this day.


Why were Concords banned?

The Concorde's retirement was due to a number of factors. The supersonic aircraft was noisy and extremely expensive to operate, which restricted flight availability. The operating costs required fare pricing that was prohibitively high for many consumers.


How many Concordes are left?

Concorde is sadly no longer flying, but it is still possible to visit some of the remaining 18 airframes, there are others not open to the public but you can still see them.


What is the fastest a jet has ever gone?

The fastest fighter jet ever created was the NASA/USAF X-15. It was an experimental aircraft that resembled more of a rocket with wings but managed to reach a record 4,520mph. The fastest fighter jet in the world today is the MiG-25 Foxbat, with a top speed of 2,190mph, half the speed of the X-15.


Are there any airworthy Concordes left?

The Concorde aircraft were retired in 2003, 27 years after commercial operations had begun. Most of the aircraft remain on display in Europe and America.


Did Princess Diana fly on the Concorde?

In real life, Diana took several trips aboard the Concorde, both with Prince Charles and solo.


Why is sonic boom illegal?

Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.


Is it illegal to go supersonic?

Current rules prohibit commercial airplanes from flying at supersonic speeds over land because of the noise levels associated with sonic booms and the negative impacts to humans and animals.


Why don t we hear sonic booms anymore?

The power, or volume, of the shock wave depends on the quantity of air that is being accelerated, and thus the size and shape of the aircraft. As the aircraft increases speed the shock cone gets tighter around the craft and becomes weaker to the point that at very high speeds and altitudes no boom is heard.


Could a 747 go supersonic?

The wings of a 747 are nowhere near strong enough to mount an engine capable of supersonic flight. Generally, engines used in aircraft like the Concorde or the F-22 are skinny and long. They also weigh quite a fair amount, further requiring a complete overhaul of the way the engines would be supported.