Aviation expert Anthony Brown reports on the replacement for Concorde
When it was announced that Concorde was to be scrapped, the ballet dancer Darcy Bussell lamented: “Why can it not be run at a loss? The National Ballet is”. Now, with the unveiling of plans for a jet that will fly between London and Sydney in just three hours, aviation enthusiasts finally have something to celebrate.
Capable of cruising at Mach 3.1 and having a maximum cruise speed of Mach 3.6, the 64-metre long Hypermach Sonic Star will have a range of 6,000 nautical miles. The plane will have a seating capacity of just 20 and the company behind it, Hypermach Aerospace, have secured funding from the Department of Trade and Industry.
The jet will be able to fly between New York and Dubai is 2 hours and 20 minutes and from London to New York in just 2 hours. It will, on that basis, rob Concorde of its title as the fastest ever passenger plane.
The Hypermach Sonic Star should be in the skies by June 2021. It’s arrival will be a true step forward as opposed to the step back taken when Concorde was retired from service. This, indeed, is something most worthy of celebration.
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