Originally Posted by
spanna2000
I suspect the biggest barrier to a new SST is the sonic boom. Everything else modern technology could do better than Concorde - the dev costs would probably be lower because all of the hard science has been done. Is there any possibility of a shock wave cushion (patent pending) to surpress the boom?
I suspect the biggest barrier is cost, not sonic boom. Sonic boom can be greatly reduced with a smaller business sized jet and also by other aerodynamic means.
How successful is Singapore Airlines A340-500 nonstop between LAX and SIN? It's an all business class/executive economy plane. When it becomes successful and widespread, then there is hope. In the interim, large subsonic plans will carry coach passengers until there is a major breakthrough in supersonic fuel economy.