United Airlines has ordered more than a dozen supersonic aircraft from a company called “Boom”, with an option up to 40, to take to the skies in about 8 years. Boom’s coldfusiony-sounding claims paint their product as “net-zero carbon”, burning “sustainable” fuels and entirely recyclable.
I have a feeling that this is very much not going to happen, and it just seems like a bad look in these precarious times.
I’m skeptical, but I’d love it if it happens. Supersonic flight is on my bucket list.
(as with many things on my bucket list, though, I hope it doesn’t become the cause of kicking the bucket)
I think it will very much pay for itself though. There were aviation fans who would specifically buy tickets to fly on the A380 back in the day, and the 380 wasn’t even all that special. This should easily sell out tickets all day long, pronto.
Well, I too would enjoy a supersonic trip, just for the experience (or to visit kiwiland in a mere 9-hour flight) but this does not sound realistic to me.
There’s a thread about this in GD, and it’s also been discussed in the omnibus general aviation thread. My take on it: for Boom, it’s a pipe dream; for United, a publicity stunt; for the world, a bad idea. I may of course be proven wrong, but I sure won’t be lining up for tickets.
Really? I flew on the A380 on a few work trips, and “nothing special” is giving it too much credit. Felt like any other plane to me.
Sure. I know* hardcore aviation buffs who will book a flight for the sole purpose of adding a certain plane to their “life list”.
*“Know” in the sense that I’ve read their posts on internet forums, not people I know IRL.
Agree with this.