Supersonic Flights Are Coming Back
by Burçin TOZAR
The advantages of air transportation for traveling from one point to another are countless. Especially when it comes to easily traveling to overseas or very distant locations, air transportation is the first choice for anyone who wants to travel quickly, comfortably, and safely. So, can’t these aircraft that take us to our desired destinations quickly go even faster? I’m sure every airline customer who loves to travel by air and is impatient will wish for this.
In fact, the first idea for these supersonic aircraft was proposed in 1956. Aircraft designers who began to think about this started working on an aircraft that could fly faster than sound, and these planes, later named Concorde, made their first flight test in France in 1969. These aircraft, which were quite successful and could fly faster than their own sound, also conducted commercial flights. With nearly 30 years of adventure, these Concorde planes made a few flights at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in our country, but after a while, these flights were canceled due to insufficient technical infrastructure issues at Atatürk Airport.
The adventure of the Concorde planes, which could cross the Atlantic Ocean in an incredible time of just 3 hours, continued for another 3 years after a crash in 2000, but the Concorde aircraft were buried in history in 2003. The excessive fuel consumption of the Concorde planes and the massive sound known as the sonic boom produced during takeoff are among the other major reasons for their retirement. So, is it possible for these supersonic planes, which have not been used for nearly 20 years, to fly again? The Concorde planes used to have turbojet engines, which caused a massive sonic boom due to high gas speeds during takeoff, but thanks to research, this sonic boom problem has been addressed, and a turbofan engine has been designed. Therefore, supersonic flights are expected to be carried out again in the coming years.
Currently, the U.S. airline company Boom Supersonic, which has started working in this field, is preparing to launch a passenger plane called Overture that can fly faster than sound. The planned date for its first flight is 2026, and the aircraft is expected to start carrying passengers around 2029. Additionally, the environmentally friendly Overture aircraft will be powered by completely recyclable fuel. This aircraft, which can travel twice as fast as current passenger planes, is expected to reduce the travel time between New York and Istanbul, which normally takes 7 hours, to between 3.5 and 4 hours. The passenger capacity of the Overture planes will be for 65 to 80 first-class passengers, and the design will include four turbo fan engines to eliminate the sonic boom problem during takeoff. The fuselage design of the Overture planes tapers from the nose to the tail, which minimizes drag and thus reduces fuel consumption.
Compared to the Concorde aircraft, these planes are much more environmentally friendly, do not cause noise pollution, and are significantly less costly. They seem to be a wonderful innovation eagerly awaited in the aviation sector. These planes, which will take off with less noise, are expected to provide a relaxing experience for airport staff, passengers, and people around the airport. Additionally, these passenger-focused aircraft will feature special computer systems in the seats for customers to enjoy their time. In my opinion, the most striking feature could be the glass ceiling of the aircraft. While it may sound frightening to some passengers, having the privilege of watching the sky at thousands of feet high can provide a fantastic experience. We eagerly await the reintroduction of this supersonic system, which was designed years ago and failed, with improved features and cutting-edge technology in the Overture aircraft.
References
Rettie, I. H., & Lewis, W. G. E. (1968). Design and development of an air intake for a supersonic transport aircraft. Journal of Aircraft, 5(6), 513-521.
Milliyet (https://www.milliyet.com.tr/molatik/teknoloji/concorde-nedir-83576)
Voa (https://www.voaturkce.com/a/boom-supersonic-overture-ses-ustu-hizli-ucak-concorde/6670102.html)
Pictures: wallpaperflare.com, boomsupersonic.com, tr.euronews.com
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