A US firm hopes to make supersonic travel normal with a new lost cost plane, according to dailymail.co.uk.
Called Boom, the 40 seater aircraft would be able to fly from London to New York in 3.5 hours – with a ticket costing just $5,000.
The Denver firm behind it say they have already begun building prototype engines
‘The idea is for a plane that goes faster than any other passenger plane built before, but for the same price as business class,’ 35 year old founder and ex Amazon employee Blake Scholl told Bloomberg.
The plane will be built using a carbon-fiber composite instead of aluminum, and the firm says it simulates millions of designs each day.
More efficient than the Concorde
According to the simulations, Boom’s design is quieter and 30 percent more efficient than the Concorde was.
Its 40 seats will be split into two single-seat rows, so everybody has a window and an aisle.
To reduce weight, the seats are of the standard domestic first-class variety, so no laydown beds.
To cut flight time, Boom’s plane will cruise at 60,000 feet, where passengers will be able to see the curvature of the earth, while going 2.6 times faster than other passenger planes.
Supersonic aircraft affordable for business travel
It also hopes to fly from LA to Sydney, and Tokyo to San Francisco.
‘We’re making a supersonic aircraft affordable for business travel.
‘Our ultimate goal is routine supersonic flight for everyone.’
The firm even has record breaking US Astronaut Scott Kelly as an advisor
First test flights
The craft will be built using carbon fibre, with standard jet engines.
‘At our hangar in Denver, we’re combining jet engines and carbon fiber, advanced design software and wind tunnel tests.
‘We’re building our prototype now—and will fly late next year.‘
The first test flights will occur at Centennial Airport in Denver, with supersonic testing near Edwards Air Force Base in California.
‘Today, international travel means jet-lag and days of lost productivity and family time. But imagine leaving New York in the morning, making afternoon meetings in London, and being home to tuck your kids into bed.
‘Unlike Concorde, flying Boom is affordable—the same price as business class.’
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