I missed the lasts flights !
2006-12-20 13:45:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
There is nothing being seriously considered right now, but there have been attempts to sell supersonic business jets. The NASA SST project was cancelled a few years ago.
With the improvements in technology, the specific fuel consumption of engines has dropped to 1/4 that of the engines that were in the concorde. It would still be expensive, but it would reduce the cost of fuel from about $3400 a passenger to about $850.
Unfortuantely, There is no demand from airlines, who enjoy the 4 times more fuel efficient 747.
2006-12-20 14:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Doggzilla 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I doubt there will be anything in the near future. These aircraft are extremely expensive to replace. There is a Russian version of the concord still flying (Tu-144). It is even more costly to operate than the Concord ever was.
However there have been discussions in the engineering world of upgrading this A/C with the modern NK-32 engine or modifying their existing engines with modern FCUs. There has been no further action on this that I am aware of. NASA had been using a TU-144 as a technology test platform as they are currently pursuing SST technologies. Until the SST engineering is refined to be cost effective I doubt you will get the chance to break the sound barrier yourself. That is unless you hire someone with an ex-military fighter to take you up. There are a few of these around. Good luck.
2006-12-20 22:45:43 · answer #2 · answered by a6peacekpr9 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in the near future. The airlines are too fixated on economy right now and until the sonic boom can be quieted, and they are working on that, there will be few routes open to them. There is some chance of a supersonic exec jet though, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you.
2006-12-21 06:04:17 · answer #3 · answered by Chris H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there was plans from boeing that they wanted to build a prototype of the sonic cruiser but plans were called off after having financial problems and so i am doubtful that it woud happen but it might be possible!!! Hope this helps you!! Good luck with finding out!!
2006-12-21 02:24:09 · answer #4 · answered by jyan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very doubtful. It costs a fortune to operate a supersonic passenger aircraft. They couldn't turn a profit with it before, it's sure not to get any easier in the near future.
IMHO, cost was the issue, not safety.
2006-12-20 22:34:04 · answer #5 · answered by Squiggy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe but it is a very expensive idea
2006-12-21 02:01:51 · answer #6 · answered by ben 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋