Over time, the aircraft became profitable when it found a customer base willing to pay for flights on what was for most of its career the fastest commercial airliner in the world. It flew these routes in less than half the time of other airliners. The research and development failed to make a profit and the two airlines bought the aircraft at a huge discount.Īmong other destinations, Concorde flew regular transatlantic flights from London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to New York-JFK, Washington Dulles and Barbados. Twenty aircraft were built including six prototypes and development aircraft.Īir France (AF) and British Airways (BA) each received seven aircraft. In the UK, any or all of the type are known simply as 'Concorde', without an article. It had a maximum speed over twice the speed of sound at Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 k per hour at cruise altitude) and could seat 92 to 128 passengersĬoncorde was jointly developed and manufactured by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty.Ĭoncorde's name, meaning harmony or union, reflects the cooperation on the project between the United Kingdom and France. 'The composites expand and contract much less than metal under supersonic conditions, allowing Overture to fly at higher speeds more safely.'Ĭoncorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet that was operated until 2003. 'The carbon-fibre composites maintain strength at elevated temperatures better than aluminium,' it explained. While many existing planes use aluminium as a key building material, Boom Supersonic says that carbon composite structures are a better option. The plane is built from a lighter carbon composite material, which makes it more fuel efficient, and thus more sustainable. 'The complex gull-wing design was selected to optimise cruise and low-speed conditions.' 'The delta platform is optimised for supersonic flight but does not operate optimally in lower-speed / subsonic conditions. 'Particular to Overture, this wing is a derivative of the traditional delta wing found on most supersonic aircraft,' (including Concorde), Boom Supersonic explained. Overture features gull wings, which allow air to flow smoothly over and around the aircraft.Ī contoured wing profile reduces sonic shock strength and creates a swirling vortex along the entire wing surface that generates lift and reduces engine stress. Overture is designed to minimise drag and maximise fuel efficiency at supersonic speeds.īoom Supersonic opted for a fuselage with a larger diameter towards the front of the aircraft, and a smaller diameter towards the rear. ' With no afterburners and buzz-free engines, Overture’s takeoffs will blend in with existing long-haul fleets, resulting in a quieter experience for both passengers and airport communities, meeting or exceeding ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) requirements for all subsonic aircraft operating over land and at or near airports,' Boom Supersonic explained. The plane is also fitted with the world's first automated noise reduction system. Using four engines results in lower thrust requirements for each, which means reduced overall noise levels, according to Boom Supersonic. While you might expect Overture to be incredibly loud, thankfully this isn't the case. 'Engine placement was selected to conform to the strictest passenger safety requirements,' it added. These inlets provide 'exceptional' pressure consistency that allows the engines to operate with subsonic airflow at supersonic speed, according to Boom Supersonic. 'The use of four engines keeps weight and temperature balanced, and shrinks the size requirements of each engine, which allows the production of those engines to fall within current supply chain and manufacturing capabilities,' Boom Supersonic explained.Įach engine is fed by a highly-efficient, streamline-traced, axisymmetric inlet. Overture is driven by four powerful wing-mounted engines that power the plane to cruising speeds of Mach 1.7 (1,300mph) over water, and just under Mach 1 (767mph) over land without the use of afterburners.
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