Too cheap to fly fast

[whughes3]

I've often wondered if the big manufactures see a potential market in super sonic travel, or if they see it as too risky. Is the safer option just to continue with small steps and improved fuel burn of 5%-7% each model?

As several people above have noted, the fundamental problem is that supersonic flight is very, very expensive, and the potential market is just too small to justify the inevitable costs. If it was such a good idea, then where are the private supersonic jets?

 

[Airbumps]

Oh I agree that its expensive - although as noted above BA was making a profit on Concorde when they retired it.

The issue i'm brining up is one of technology. How much research is done into making supersonic flight LESS expensive and thus viable?

 

[lukenet]

As several people above have noted, the fundamental problem is that supersonic flight is very, very expensive, and the potential market is just too small to justify the inevitable costs. If it was such a good idea, then where are the private supersonic jets?

I think a good point to make is that it was expensive to run when compared to a moden aircraft, as it was based on 1940/50's technology.

Aircraft manufacturers have been totally focused on Reliability, Efficiencies, Yield, Operating Costs, etc.. basically all the things their customers (the Airlines) have been demanding and more importantly paying for. They have made massive advances in these areas compared to aircraft of old. Air travel is now considered to be reliable and safe.

Speed is not on that list! It is not a goal of the airlines as it is currently perceived to be counter to the above stated goals as with current tech, speed = higher fuel burn and more cost for the miles traveled. The current product is good enough for paying customers as there is no other viable alternative at the moment, so no need to make expensive, risky changes.

To move speed to the top of the agenda, it will require a new disruptive technology, in much they same way air travel replaced travelling by ship or train.

It is also important to note that almost all the technology advances from the 1950's to the early 1990's were products of World War II where people had to innovate or died. There has not been the same need to innovate as the current tech just works and is widely accepted and understood.

 

[hobo]

The crash was the problem, not the financial crisis.

Considering it was the only fatal crash involving a Concorde, and the crash was caused by large debris on the runway rather than any mechanical fault - The crash shouldn't have been a big factor.

 

[mannej]

Considering it was the only fatal crash involving a Concorde, and the crash was caused by large debris on the runway rather than any mechanical fault - The crash shouldn't have been a big factor.

What did that 1 accident do to the safety statistics of the Concorde?

 

[elbarto]

Once Scramjets get worked out and some super secret military technologies become declassified, supersonic flight might become feasible again.

And yet BA ran Concorde at a profit.

The amazing thing about that is that BA asked its customers what they would be willing to pay for Concorde. They all came back with a price that was higher than BA expected and what it cost them to operate.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i think a major issue with Concorde was the range. as it stood, it was ideal for flights to New York, but anything longer and it required stops. Australia to Europe would have required three flight sectors... around 3.5 hours each, plus ground time. in that same time premium pax could be having a good 8 hours I disturbed sleep in a nice comfy bed.

even to New York and back, the afternoon Concorde departure was inconvenient... and a lot if supersonic pax would fly Concorde TO New York but prefer to fly first class subsonic back to get a good sleep.

if a plane with the same range was to be reintroduced today... where would it practically fly? from Asia to Europe? even that would have to be 1 stop, and probably 8 hours or so total time... for 11 hours you can fly overnight, in a bed, and arrive ready for work.

for it to work going forward range would have to be at least non-stop Asia to Europe. but even then... how would they optimise flight timings for the pax they are looking to attract?

scramjets... a couple of hours to do the flight... great... but the cost!

 

[dajop]

If there is to be something like the Concorde again, I have a hunch that it will be operated out of either PVG or PEK and it won't be BA or AF operating it.