Startups, NASA pursuing supersonic commercial flight - 60 Minutes

[Rhiannon12866]

Nearly 20 years after the Concorde made its final commercial flight, new efforts are underway to make supersonic passenger travel viable again. Bill Whitaker reports. Aired on 11/21/2021.

[hlthe2b]

1. I find it hard to imagine the "alternate" sound and vibrations that result from new technology will

be free of consequences--disturbance to humans and animals, including birds. They are treating this as a mere annoyance to residents below flight paths. I think there will be a lot more impacts than that and hope that SCIENCE gets to weigh in.

[magicguido]

2. How about NY to LA in 30 minutes via SpaceX

[Historic NY]

3. It was the big thing in the early 70's in NY

The MTA, along with the then, Gov. Nelson Rockafellow, were going to turn a recently deactivated USAF Base in the Hudson Valley into that place for SST's Super Sonic Transport. They went about willy-nilly gobbling up thousands of acres of land demolishing early 18th century homes, farms, business all for the sake of this concept. Why because the Not in my backyard types wouldn't allow the noise over NY City airspace. The fuel crisis in the 70s and the lost of one of American concept transports made this a moot point. For decades later the state was trying to farm the land out to a ready basket of developers and scheme's to use the 8000 acres. That all came to a screeching halt, when the final acreage was turned over to the NY Dept of conservation. The land is now forever wild and used for passive recreational pursuits and hunting. So careful what you wish for. I grew up listening to the crack and boom of USAF Jets. That old AF base still struggles, but it has a long runway, now under Port Authority control. It has the one of longest commercial runways in the country at just under 12000ft.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

4. God forbid the ultra-rich have to wait fo anything.

For the rest of us, supersonic commercial flight will remain a dream, something for rich people to brag about to their friends.

The more interesting development in aviation these days is the blended wing design.



This airliner will carry about 400 passengers for 20% less fuel than conventional aircraft, which could result in a significant reduction in ticket prices. Aerobus is working on a hydrogen powered version, which will have zero emissions. Realistically, you are more likely to fly on this state-of-the-art airliner than on any supersonic speedster.