3 ms·

Not Concorde per se - The Boeing 2707 - which Boeing canceled as it became clear that the numbers just didn't make sense.

ghaff 8y ago
And the US government cut funding--which of course made the numbers make even less sense.
- jandrese 8y ago
  And also people complained about sonic booms which caused a bunch of rushed legislation and killed the potential market even harder. Honestly, the extra fuel burn (carbon emissions!) from SSTs would be problematic even today. I'm not sad that aircraft manufacturers instead focused on boring but profitable fuel efficiency instead.
  - ghaff 8y ago
    I don't disagree with any of that. Honestly, with modern lie-flat seating (much less Emirates-class luxury) and communication/entertainment options, long-haul flights are still sort of boring but they're comfortable enough to a degree that they weren't when the Concorde was flying. I actually find them a good opportunity to catch up on reading books and watching some movies. Even if one of these supersonic startups get off the ground (sorry), I expect they'll be in the province of CEOs and investment bankers billing by the hour hopping over to London to close a deal. It's hard to see the economics working for just about anyone else.
    - jandrese 8y ago
      I'm still waiting for an airline with Fifth Element style beds for seating. Lie flat seating is nice, but it takes up so much room that it ends up being quite expensive most of the time. I'd like to be able to lie down and take a nap at the price of a coach ticket.
      - ghaff 8y ago
        I'm not convinced that there are other sleeper configurations that are more efficient (from an airline space perspective), comfortable for passengers, and safe in terms of evacuation. It's possible, but even if it worked logistically I'm not sure how many takers you'd get where the choice was to get a coffin-like pod for an entire flight versus a seat. The lie-flat seating gives you the choice between a seat and a moderately comfortable bed. Admittedly train sleepers do tend to take the coffin approach but the dimensions of the cabin are quite a bit different.

ghaff 8y ago

And the US government cut funding--which of course made the numbers make even less sense.

jandrese 8y ago
And also people complained about sonic booms which caused a bunch of rushed legislation and killed the potential market even harder. Honestly, the extra fuel burn (carbon emissions!) from SSTs would be problematic even today. I'm not sad that aircraft manufacturers instead focused on boring but profitable fuel efficiency instead.
- ghaff 8y ago
  I don't disagree with any of that. Honestly, with modern lie-flat seating (much less Emirates-class luxury) and communication/entertainment options, long-haul flights are still sort of boring but they're comfortable enough to a degree that they weren't when the Concorde was flying. I actually find them a good opportunity to catch up on reading books and watching some movies. Even if one of these supersonic startups get off the ground (sorry), I expect they'll be in the province of CEOs and investment bankers billing by the hour hopping over to London to close a deal. It's hard to see the economics working for just about anyone else.
  - jandrese 8y ago
    I'm still waiting for an airline with Fifth Element style beds for seating. Lie flat seating is nice, but it takes up so much room that it ends up being quite expensive most of the time. I'd like to be able to lie down and take a nap at the price of a coach ticket.
    - ghaff 8y ago
      I'm not convinced that there are other sleeper configurations that are more efficient (from an airline space perspective), comfortable for passengers, and safe in terms of evacuation. It's possible, but even if it worked logistically I'm not sure how many takers you'd get where the choice was to get a coffin-like pod for an entire flight versus a seat. The lie-flat seating gives you the choice between a seat and a moderately comfortable bed. Admittedly train sleepers do tend to take the coffin approach but the dimensions of the cabin are quite a bit different.