The appeal of supersonic civilian flight after a year of no travel
CNN
There were few sights more graceful than the Concorde, swooping in to land, its hinged nose drooping like a glistening beak. The sleek white, pencil thin fuselage hasn't been seen airborne since its retirement nearly two decades ago.
But that may soon change. United Airlines just announced a new leap into supersonic civilian flight, placing orders for 15 new jets designed to fly at Mach 1.7 that could halve the flight from New York to London to just 3.5 hours. The Overture planes, from a company called Boom Supersonic in Denver haven't been built yet, let alone proven themselves safe; they'll face stringent regulatory checks before they can enter service. But United said the jet will be ready to carry passengers by 2029. Environmental campaigners say supersonic aviation is more harmful than regular flight, but the airline has promised its new bird will use 100% sustainable fuel.More Related News