WhatsApp Logo Subscribe
For News Alert

News

Virgin seeks to revive supersonic commercial flight -- but faster

August 3, 2020 08:30 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

Space tourism company Virgin Galactic on Monday announced a partnership with engine-maker Rolls-Royce to build a supersonic commercial airplane that flies at three times the speed of sound.

The aircraft would travel at Mach 3 -- rather than the Mach 2 speed of Concorde, the pioneering jet that operated from 1976 to 2003.

Any new supersonic plane would have to solve the problems that doomed Concorde, in particular noise and fuel consumption.

"We are excited to... unveil this initial design concept of a high speed aircraft, which we envision as blending safe and reliable commercial travel with an unrivalled customer experience," said George Whitesides, chief space officer at Virgin Galactic.

The aircraft's draft design showed a plane with a triangular "delta wing" carrying between nine and 19 passengers at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet, or 18,000 meters -- about twice as high as normal commercial flight.

The plane would take off and land at existing airport runways.

Virgin Galactic said its team would "work to address key challenges in thermal management, maintenance, noise, emissions, and economics that routine high speed commercial flights would entail."

The company signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to develop an engine for the aircraft.

Virgin Galactic's main focus this far has been its part-plane, part-rocket craft that is being developed to carry tourists to the edge of space.

It is awaiting more test flights, and no launch date for commercial journeys has been set.

The company, which was listed on the stock exchange last year, is seeking to diversify and in May it announced an agreement with NASA to develop high-speed technology.

NASA has also been working for decades on a silent supersonic experimental aircraft, the X-59. A first prototype is being built by Lockheed-Martin in California.

The project hopes to make the supersonic boom -- the explosion caused by crossing the sound barrier -- almost inaudible on the ground.

 

 



Most Read

  1. 52% pass as Lahore Board announces 11th class result 52% pass as Lahore Board announces 11th class result
  2. Pakistanis feared among six migrants killed by Mexican soldiers in highway chase Pakistanis feared among six migrants killed by Mexican soldiers in highway chase
  3. Fire guts solar panels, chemicals worth billions at Karachi warehouse Fire guts solar panels, chemicals worth billions at Karachi warehouse
  4. Javeria Saud gets angry in live show for not given credit for 'Ishq Murshid' OST Javeria Saud gets angry in live show for not given credit for 'Ishq Murshid' OST
  5. Two-way air ticket made mandatory for travellers going abroad Two-way air ticket made mandatory for travellers going abroad
  6. Tripti Dimri addresses her controversial dance moves to Mery Mehboob song Tripti Dimri addresses her controversial dance moves to Mery Mehboob song