Stuck at subsonic speeds
Anybody of you guys ever had the experience of going supersonic? Since they retired the Concorde, the chances of experiencing this are slimmer than ever. Well, maybe not “ever”. I’m sure the chances are better than 100 years ago. But slim nonetheless. I heard that there’s a new company building a new supersonic passenger jet that is supposed to be deployed in a few years. But I also vaguely remember similar announcements in the past, so who knows.
It seems Chuck is destined to stay stuck at subsonic speeds with the rest of us for a while longer.
In other news: I already mentioned this, but this weekend there is going to be the “Austrian Airfest” and the “Aviation Expo Austria” here in my own little hometown of Bad Vöslau. If anybody makes it there, I will be in the Aviation Expo Area, which is part of the Airfest. Friday is only for registered professional visitors, but on Saturday and Sunday the Expo area is open to all Airfest visitors! Come and find my table! I don’t know where exactly I will be located, but the area is not that big. Hope to see some of you there!
My Dad was the first instructor pilot (USAF) for the SR-71. He got the only simulator placed in the Frontiers of Flight museum at Dallas Love Field.
You guys coming to Oshkosh 2019?
If you are referring to the “Boom” project, my prediction is that they will not be going anywhere. They have a mock-up of a scaled-down prototype, and a wind-tunnel model (which already looks completely different to the prototype), and a non-engineer CEO / PR-guy talking about things he clearly does not understand.
The only (in my not-so-humble opinion) viable project is the Aerion, and they have reduced their projected top speed numerous times, I think now it’s only Mach 1.4. The advantage over conventional business jets is now so small that there is probably no market worth speaking of. At least I think the Aerion is technically viable.
The big problem are the engines: You can have turbojets (Concorde) or low-bypass turbofans (Eurofighter, F-22), which are efficient at supersonic speeds, and have a low cross-section so they can fit in low-drag nacelles. Or you can have high-bypass turbofans to comply with noise regulations. But not both. Aerion compromised by reducing top speed and still getting acceptable noise levels. Boom is talking about Mach 2+, which just isn’t going to happen on a commercially viable scale (or at all) with quiet engines. Having noisy engines will not only pose a huge problem with certification for a new type, but will also restrict you to big commercial airports, which greatly reduces the benefits of a very fast aircraft, when you are still limited to a hub-and-spoke model.
I’d love to be the naysayer who is proven wrong but I have not seen anyone showing how it could be done. The challenge is simple: Show me a supersonic aircraft that is not absolutely screaming noisy on takeoff.
Robert-my pop wrangled and sold horses for the US Calvary(1930’s) last did it in 1938.
There is roughly 30 years between the SR-71 /A12 program and the last of the Calvary.
I know one of the program engineers that retired fro Lockheed Skunk works.
We can do big things if we’ve a mind to..
sometimes with simple computers and slide rules..