People are pretty curious about the future of travel, you know, pandemic, potential signs of other life forms, space and all.
While many things are a ways off, some more tangible things coming in the next decade already sounds pretty cool, and so much better than even the so called “golden ages” of travel, during the 50’s and 60’s.
Boom Supersonic is one of the more exciting companies driving the future of air travel, and its CEO just said the company is focused on creating $100 supersonic flights, which will take you virtually anywhere in the world in under 7 hours, and likely in the next decade or so.
$100 Supersonic Flights
Blake Scholl is the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, one of the leading firms hoping to reboot supersonic travel, better and faster than ever. The company expects its prototype ‘Overture’ prototype to fly this year, and to have commercial supersonic flights bookable by 2026.
For most people, enthusiasm around supersonic travel is where the conversation ends though – at least historically.
Concorde tickets ran up to $20,000 until the untimely demise of the supersonic jet, which made it a “once in a lifetime” experience, or for most people “not” in a lifetime.
But Boom Aerospace aims to deliver fuel efficiencies and other unique elements which will allow initial flight pricing around $5,000, which is not far off current business class pricing on other, far slower jets.
Still, not everyone has $5k for an airline ticket, right?
Well, that’s where Scholl says the company is thinking many steps ahead, and is actively working on iterations, such as the use of electric engines and other futuristic ideas, to make supersonic travel affordable for all.
Why take 7 hours to fly to London, when you can do it in 3.5? Actually, scratch that, Scholl says New York to London will take 3 hours 15 minutes, not three and a half.
“Physics does not let you design an ugly supersonic jet,”
Blake Scholl, CEO Boom Aerospace
Scholl told CNN the pandemic actually helps the chances for supersonic travel, as timing around the availability of the jets may coincide with the first growth period for airlines, after many years of downsizing.
“It helps to remember that we’re talking literally about 1960s technology. So much has changed. Technology has gone from aluminum to carbon fiber, from drafting paper and slide rules and wind tunnels to being able to optimize airplanes for computer simulation. We’ve completely changed how we build jet engines, so now they’re quieter and they’re more fuel efficient.”
Blake Scholl, CEO Boom Aerospace
Efficient should mean cheaper, which could bring these jaw dropping fares.
Airline customers looking for competitive advantages for their travelers will be highly tempted by jets with no middle seats, which can deliver high value customers to global hubs in half the time, or less of current planes.
Already, Virgin, Japan Airlines and others have injected capital into the operation, and American Express recently added to the pot. As to the $100 fares? Physics and design experts say it may be longer than Scholl would hope, but it’s not impossible.
Current materials wouldn’t allow for a jet to be operated using the miracles of carbon capture and recycling the carbon back into the atmosphere, but as lighter materials and new ways of manufacturing come together, we may live long enough to see the impossible become reality!
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