A follow on to the retired Concorde…
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has joined with hypersonic specialists at the company’s Research & Technology unit to study a Mach 5 passenger transport capable of crossing the Atlantic in 2 hr. or the Pacific in 3.
The initial concept vehicle, unveiled at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2018 conference in Atlanta, is a preliminary step toward a long-range development plan targeted at both commercial and military applications. Although not yet defined, the concept is provisionally aimed at a passenger capacity larger than long-range business jets, but smaller than Boeing’s 737, with potential entry into service from the late 2030s onward.
Flying at Mach 5, and with a projected cruise altitude of 95,000 ft., the vehicle would travel at more than 2.5 times the speed and 30,000 ft. higher than the supersonic Anglo-French Concorde, which was retired in 2003. According to Boeing, the additional speed would enable same-day return flights even across the Pacific and provide airlines with increased asset utilization. …
image….Boeing…