Is Concorde being revived?

While we probably won't see Concorde flying again, there are strong prospects for the return of supersonic flight in the commercial realm. Several companies across the continents have been researching and developing concepts to reintroduce rapid operations to our skies.



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Concorde was a supersonic passenger airliner designed and produced as a joint venture between BAC (England) and Sud Aviation (France). 20 aircraft were built in France and the United Kingdom, 6 of which were used as prototype and development aircraft. Concorde was retired from service in 2003 and no longer flies.

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About Concorde With a take-off speed of 220 knots (250mph) and a cruising speed of 1350mph – more than twice the speed of sound - a typical London to New York crossing would take a little less than three and a half hours, as opposed to about eight hours for a subsonic flight.

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No manufacturer has yet been able to recreate the days of the Concorde, but some are trying. Denver-based Boom Supersonic is leading the pack with its faster-than-sound Overture jet, already securing over 100 orders from United Airlines, Japan Airlines, and American Airlines.

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Such speed didn't come cheap, though: A transatlantic flight required the high-maintenance aircraft to gulp jet fuel at the rate of one ton per seat, and the average round-trip price was $12,000.

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Today, British travellers have a better chance than many to spy one of the remaining aircraft, with seven dotted across the UK, more than in any other country.

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The main reason is that the Concorde had a different design, engine, and fuel system than most fighters. These features allowed it to overcome the challenges and limitations of supersonic flight, such as drag, heat, noise, and fuel consumption.

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The Concorde was famously loud: a take-off at Washington airport in 1977 measured 119.4 decibels. By comparison, a clap of thunder hits 120 decibels while the pain threshold for the human ear is around 110.

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The wings of a 747 are nowhere near strong enough to mount an engine capable of supersonic flight. Generally, engines used in aircraft like the Concorde or the F-22 are skinny and long. They also weigh quite a fair amount, further requiring a complete overhaul of the way the engines would be supported.

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It's no secret that Richard Branson tried to buy the Concorde fleet from British Airways in 2003, when the airline was forced to close its supersonic operation. At the time BA dismissed the offer as a publicity stunt from Virgin, saying: maintenance would be too expensive and it is just not viable.

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Virgin may have been shut down by British Airways over 15 years ago, but Virgin Galactic and Boom Supersonic briefly had a deal to acquire the Overture, the manufacturer's supersonic flagship jet, dubbed 'the New Concorde.

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Over the Irish sea and rapidly running out of fuel the Tornado had a hard time catching up with the mighty Concorde. Over more than a hundred miles or so, 5–10 minutes the Concord could outrun every fighter.

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As a former Concorde pilot puts it, You don't actually hear anything on board. All we see is the pressure wave moving down the airplane – it indicates the instruments. And that's what we see around Mach 1. But we don't hear the sonic boom or anything like that.

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The Concorde carried out supersonic flights until 2003, when it was retired. Also, because the plane flew faster than the speed of sound, it created a sonic boom, an explosive noise caused by shock waves that were a nuisance to people on the ground.

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Boom Supersonic, the US plane manufacturer, plans to have the answer with its new Overture jet, which is set to transport customers at twice the speed of today's fastest commercial aircraft, and is regarded as the new Concorde.

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In real life, Diana took several trips aboard the Concorde, both with Prince Charles and solo.

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BA never suffered a serious accident with its seven strong fleet. Concorde service was profitable by the late 1980s and if not for the economic downturn and Air France Concorde crash of 2000, may have survived to this day.

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