Originally Posted by
chornedsnorkack
I am not particularly convinced of the physics of hypersonic flight.
BA was due to fly LHR-SYD in 14 hours - with 2 fuel stops (Bahrain and Singapore). BA, and SQ, DID fly LHR-SIN in 9 hours with the fuel stop in Bahrain.
How was it, to spend 9 hours in a plane designed for midgets, preferrably midgets without any hand luggage? Where economy class tourists had twice the room on a 747 for a tenth of the price?
No problem with physics (Soyuz does hypersonic, Virgin do sub-orbital, and that's where I think fast flight will be going)
There's no reason you couldn't have New First on a Concorde, you'd just have fewer seats, charge 4 times the price, and fill.
I think that hypersonic will be a stepping stone at best. A sub-orbital flight would allow LHR-SYD, or JFK-SIN in under 2 hours. Again, economics dictates.