Around two decades following Concorde’s final flight, the aviation industry is on the brink of a new era in ultrafast air travel. The X-59′ Son of Concorde,’ an experimental supersonic aircraft developed by NASA, is now gearing up for its maiden test flight, as the New York Post reported.
Although smaller and slower than its predecessor, Concorde, the X-59 boasts a top speed of approximately 1,500 kilometers per hour. This advancement promises to reduce the travel time from New York to London by an impressive 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Further exciting developments are also on the horizon. The Civil Aviation Authority of Britain recently published research suggesting that by 2033, a flight from London to Sydney, currently spanning 22 hours, could be cut down to an astonishing two hours.
Notably, suborbital flights akin to those pioneered by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic jet program are redefining the possibilities of air travel. Operating at an incredible speed of 3,500 miles per hour (equivalent to 5,632 kilometers), these flights offer unparalleled time-saving opportunities. Imagine traveling from New York to Shanghai in a mere 39 minutes, a journey that currently takes 15 hours by conventional means. Similarly, a trip from New York to London could usually be completed in less than an hour.
The X-59 incorporates a groundbreaking feature known as ‘Quiet Supersonic Technology,’ aimed at mitigating the disruptive sonic boom typically produced when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier.
NASA explains that the X-59’s unique design prevents shockwaves from merging, resulting in a more subdued ‘sonic thump’ than other supersonic aircraft’s traditional loud sonic boom. This innovation represents a significant step in making supersonic travel more socially acceptable due to its reduced noise impact.
