Just In
- 3 hrs ago Navratri 2024 Date In April: When Will Chaitra Navratri Festival Start? Significance Of 9 Days, Deets Inside!
- 3 hrs ago Ramadan 2024: 6 Bollywood-Inspired Outfit Ideas To Shine During The Holy Month
- 6 hrs ago Personality Traits Of April Born Babies: From Being Witty, To Charismatic And More, They Are Full Of Sheer Joy
- 6 hrs ago Festivals In April 2024: Check Out The Full List Of Tyohar And Vrats That Will Fall This Month
Don't Miss
- Education National Management College begins admissions for CA and CMA courses
- Movies Shark Tank India 3 Episode Update: THIS Brand Aims To Help IIT-JEE, NEET Students In India In Special Way
- Sports Pooja Vastrakar shares Explosive Instagram Story mocking PM Narendra Modi and BJP Leaders, deletes after going Viral on Social Media
- Technology Samsung Galaxy M15 5G Launch in India Teased; Could Be Priced Under Rs 15,000
- News CBI Court Convicts Seven In 2005 Raju Pal Murder Case
- Finance 1 Share Split To 5 Shares: Luggage Stock VIP Turns Rs 4 Lakh To Rs 13 Lakh; Prabhudas Upgrades To BUY
- Automobiles Ather Rizta Pre-Bookings Now Open – Ola S1 & TVS iQube Rival
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
Go past the sound barrier in your own supersonic jet
Cutting through the sky sooner than the speed of sound is not a far-off dream anymore, for three big companies are developing private planes capable of supersonic flight. And to own one such supersonic jet, all you need to have is a good bank-balance.
In 2003, Air France and British Airways retired their Concords and many feared that this was the end of supersonic passenger flight. However, Lockheed's Skunkworks division is now developing the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST), which features a cool gull-wing design and a top speed of Mach 1.8. (Mach 1, about 770 mph, is the speed of sound.)
Also, Aerion Corporation's business jet will be flying at Mach 1.6 with a range of 4,600 miles. Already, more than 40 people have dished out 250,000 dollars as down payment on the eight-passenger, 80 million dollar plane. This will easily recover the plane's estimated 1.2 billion dollars development costs, while making profit at the same time.
While the jets are priced sky-high costs and are practically unaffordable to those of us who fly coach, it is the advances in aircraft design, materials and construction that make supersonic flight a viable and relatively affordable option.
In fact, Lockheed's airframe design will tone down the effect of sonic boom by breaking up the wave of pressure generated when the plane breaks the sound barrier, and Aerion ssaid that its jet wing and airframe minimize sonic boom to the point where it is inaudible on the ground.
With the increasing sales of business jets and top-of-the-line models already approaching Mach 1, there's growing demand for jets that move faster than the speed of sound.
Joining the line up will be Cessna Citation X, which hits Mach 0.92, making it the fastest thing in the sky that doesn't have missiles under its wings. Gulfstream Aerospace has goes further with the G650, which tops out at Mach 0.925 and is scheduled for delivery in 2012.
“The enormous response to the G650, at million, just validates our business case and shows that there is an appetite for a new model airplane in that general price segment," Wired News quoted Brian E. Barents, vice chairman of Aerion, as telling The New York Times.
The company's 10-year business plan calls for selling 300 jets. On the other hand, Cessna, one of the most established names in general aviation, is getting in on the action too. While it has not revealed much about its supersonic project, however, having a scheme is proof enough that how seriously the industry is considering to make money by selling supersonic business jets.
Despite being well capitalized and having generated plenty of customer interest, there are still hassles like fuel consumption and pollution. Supersonic jets burn lots of fuel and there are concerns that they pollute more than traditional passenger planes. R&D costs are another worry. Thus the plane makers have plenty of obstacles to overcome before supersonic becomes reality.
- wellnessWhat Happens To Your Body When A Plane Loses Cabin Pressure?
- pulseThe Malaysian Airline MH 370- Facts That Will Blow Your Mind
- pulseA New Product By Xilinx
- disorders cureTips To Ease Ear Problems While Flying
- pulseAirplanes may run on eco-friendly algae-based kerosene
- wellnessEarth Day: Effective Eco-Friendly Ways To Improve Your Health And Stay Fit
- pulseTraffic Signals Will Now Control Fuel Consumption
- pulseDrive Your Car On Tequila!
- home n gardenIf Plants Had A Voice, How Would They Respond To Air Pollution? Hear What Green Drama Queens Are Whispering!
- insyncWorld Pollution Control Day 2023: Conscious Choices That Can Curb Pollution, And Build A Sustainable Future
- healthNot Just Heart And Lungs, Exposing Your Child To Air pollution Can Cause This Fatal Disease Too!
- healthExclusive: A Pregnant Mom Can Posses These Maternal, Fetal Health Risks If Exposed To Air Pollution