Concorde no more

[The Ewok]

After 27 years all BA/Air France concorde planes are being put out of service in 6 months time

 

[Dipper]

It's odd but in nearly every apsect of our lives technological advancements are leading to us being able to do things quicker, bigger & more efficiently but in the case of supersonic air travel for commercial passengers we're going backwards.

When Concorde started 30/40 years ago people probably beleived that supersonic air travel would become common place by the year 2000, but now we're in the strange situation where the fastest avalable commercial atlantic crossing is a good few hours slower than it was 30 years ago.

 

[knuckles]

Not carrying cargo, apart from people, always made it a tough commercial sell. That's why it is an unfair comparison Dipper. No cargo means more room for fuel to power supersonic engines.
There is a programme underway to make routes more of a "straight line" which should cut travel time further e.g. HK to SF involves travelling in a freaking arc (2 hours from land reqt)

 

[Stealth bomber]

It's disappointing. I had always hoped that the Concorde, or something like it, could have become more global.

Now that I live here and have basically committed myself to spending a lot of time in two countries for the rest of my life, it would have been nice for supersonic air travel to become more widespread.

As things are now, it takes me about 24 hours to get home with layovers and customs.

 

[CharlieG]

How are the scram jets coming along?

You know, those hyperspeed engines that, when coupled with a fuselage that can fly in the upper atmosphere, will supposedly deliver us safe and sound to Heathrow in a little over an hour?

Sounds good...

 

[Dipper]

There was mention here in Britain last year of a huge supersonic plane that was under design that would travel from here to Australia in much shorter time, I can't remember how long they said but 8 hours seems to ring a bell.

Looking at the pictures I do remember thinking that i wouldn't hold my breath & I'm sure that ticket prices would be huge but it would be amazing wouldn't it?

 

[evade28]

yer that would be cool to be able to get to the UK in 8 hrs!

the long plane trip kinda puts me off travelling to britain, even tho i have duel citizenship (for here and there) i think id rather go somewhere closer, and WARMER (like vanuatu)

so yer maybe if they did have fast planes and i had the $$$ i would go!

 

[knuckles]

The new airbus does Mel-London non-stop (80% load). But it takes 18-20 hours.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by DIPPER
Looking at the pictures I do remember thinking that i wouldn't hold my breath & I'm sure that ticket prices would be huge but it would be amazing wouldn't it?

Not if it crashed it wouldn't be.

 

[Ripper]

Originally posted by M29
Not if it crashed it wouldn't be.

They dont crash often, generally only the once.

 

[Bomber Spirit]

Originally posted by Stealth bomber
As things are now, it takes me about 24 hours to get home with layovers and customs.

No flight should ever take longer than 24 hours. Couldn't they just go up and stay there and let the earth revolve until they're in line with where they want to go?

This is a ****-take.

 

[evade28]

Originally posted by Bomber Spirit
No flight should ever take longer than 24 hours. Couldn't they just go up and stay there and let the earth revolve until they're in line with where they want to go?

This is a ****-take.

hahaha, good one

 

[nut]

Originally posted by knuckles

There is a programme underway to make routes more of a "straight line" which should cut travel time further e.g. HK to SF involves travelling in a freaking arc (2 hours from land reqt)

????????? I can assure you that at present planes fly the shortest possible route they can.

 

[knuckles]

Originally posted by nut
????????? I can assure you that at present planes fly the shortest possible route they can.

The shortest 'allowed' route.