Originally Posted by
JamilD
Looks like
some startup is trying to build a supersonic passenger aircraft. They're backed by YCombinator, the most prominent Silicon Valley incubator/VC firm, but I really doubt this will get off the ground. Test flights apparently start next year. Their team includes people from Pratt & Whitney, NASA, Gulfstream, Icon, Boeing, Virgin Galactic, etc, so that inspires some faith.
It's risky, because the revenue model of airlines is based around volume, not speed. It used to be about speed, but now it's about butts in seats. This is why we are on airbus A320s instead of 727s.
I am sure the plane will fly, but let's look at why concorde failed..aside from the gas consumption, it was priced out of market and still had razor thin margins considering the operating costs.
To make supersonic pax travel work, you need a plane that can still take 230 people, uses less fuel, and has a simple training curve for the crew.