 The jet set a record when it flew between New York City and London in 2 hours, 52 minutes, 59 seconds. Designers compensated with powerful afterburners and a uniquely drooped nose to aid visibility on approach.

The supersonic secret of Concorde: Mystery behind grounding of world’s fastest passenger jet explained

Texas-based Venus Aerospace is building a hypersonic aircraft that can emulate and perhaps overtake the highs achieved by&nbsp;the legendary Concorde. The aircraft named 'Stargazer is expected to carry about a dozen passengers and travel at Mach 9 or nine times the speed of sound, which equates to about 8,000km/h (5,000mph).&nbsp;

Measuring&nbsp;50 feet long by 100 feet wide,&nbsp;Stargazer is designed to hurtle from San Francisco to Tokyo in a record one hour – 11 times faster than today’s flight time. By comparison, Concorde, which operated between 1973-2003 travelled at Mach 2 or about, 1,535 mph. The fastest aircraft ever built, Lockheed’s SR-71 “Blackbird,” travelled at Mach 3.2 (2,455 mph).

Venus co-founder and CTO Andrew Duggleby said the one-hour global transport could be turned into reality using a&nbsp;combination of jet and rocket engines.&nbsp;Duggleby said Stargazer would take off using traditional jet engines but once it is away from the urban dwellings, it would employ rocket engines to climb to&nbsp;170,000 feet and reach hypersonic speeds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-first-homegrown-passenger-jet-c919-embarks-on-maiden-commercial-flight-597356">Also read |&nbsp;China's first homegrown passenger jet C919 embarks on maiden commercial flight</a>

"Stargazer will take off from a primary airport with jet engines, then when away from city-center, our rocket engine will propel passengers gently to 170,000 feet and Mach 9, crossing 5000 miles in 1 hour. San Francisco to Japan. Houston To London. All with a 2-hour turn-around," the company claims on its website.&nbsp;

Speaking about how the idea of developing a hypersonic jet came into being, Sassie&nbsp;Duggleby, wife of Andrew, as well as chief executive officer at Venus Aerospace referred to an incident from 2018.&nbsp;

“We were on deployment in Japan when we were looking out at Tokyo Bay one afternoon and Andrew turned to me and said there’s this new rocket engine coming down the pipeline,” Sassie said. “And, he said if it’s ever proven, then we can put it on a plane and be home in an hour.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indigo-is-first-indian-airline-valued-at-over-1-trillion-rupees-609931">WATCH |&nbsp;Indigo is first Indian airline valued at over 1 trillion rupees</a>

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<h2 data-v-3ea23604="" data-v-e5d603e4="">Technology breakthrough needed</h2>

However, reaching the ambitious target is not as easy as it seems. Venus will require a technological breakthrough if&nbsp;Stargazer is to complete the&nbsp;San Francisco to Tokyo journey. The company will have to develop&nbsp;the “world’s first liquid-propellant rotating detonation rocket engine”.&nbsp;Currently, rocket engines burn subsonically which is not enough to power Stargazer's Mach 9 speed.&nbsp;

“Rotating detonation means the supersonic combustion happens continuously inside the engine and our video shows the detonation wave moving around the engine at supersonic speeds,” said Andrew.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Texas-based Venus Aerospace is building a hypersonic aircraft that can emulate and perhaps overtake the highs achieved by the legendary Concorde. The aircraft named 'Stargazer is expected to carry about a dozen passengers and travel at Mach 9 or nine times the speed of sound, which equates to about 8,000km/h (5,000mph).

Texas-based Venus Aerospace is building a hypersonic aircraft that can emulate and perhaps overtake the highs achieved by the legendary Concorde. The aircraft named 'Stargazer is expected to carry about a dozen passengers and travel at Mach 9 or nine times the speed of sound, which equates to about 8,000km/h (5,000mph). Measuring 50 feet long by 100 feet wide, Stargazer is designed to hurtle from San Francisco to Tokyo in a record one hour – 11 times faster than today’s flight time. By comparison, Concorde, which operated between 1973-2003 travelled at Mach 2 or about, 1,535 mph. The fastest aircraft ever built, Lockheed’s SR-71 “Blackbird,” travelled at Mach 3.2 (2,455 mph). Venus co-founder and CTO Andrew Duggleby said the one-hour global transport could be turned into reality using a combination of jet and rocket engines. Duggleby said Stargazer would take off using traditional jet engines but once it is away from the urban dwellings, it would employ rocket engines to climb to 170,000 feet and reach hypersonic speeds. Also read | China's first homegrown passenger jet C919 embarks on maiden commercial flight "Stargazer will take off from a primary airport with jet engines, then when away from city-center, our rocket engine will propel passengers gently to 170,000 feet and Mach 9, crossing 5000 miles in 1 hour. San Francisco to Japan. Houston To London. All with a 2-hour turn-around," the company claims on its website. Speaking about how the idea of developing a hypersonic jet came into being, Sassie Duggleby, wife of Andrew, as well as chief executive officer at Venus Aerospace referred to an incident from 2018. “We were on deployment in Japan when we were looking out at Tokyo Bay one afternoon and Andrew turned to me and said there’s this new rocket engine coming down the pipeline,” Sassie said. “And, he said if it’s ever proven, then we can put it on a plane and be home in an hour.” WATCH | Indigo is first Indian airline valued at over 1 trillion rupees × Technology breakthrough needed However, reaching the ambitious target is not as easy as it seems. Venus will require a technological breakthrough if Stargazer is to complete the San Francisco to Tokyo journey. The company will have to develop the “world’s first liquid-propellant rotating detonation rocket engine”. Currently, rocket engines burn subsonically which is not enough to power Stargazer's Mach 9 speed. “Rotating detonation means the supersonic combustion happens continuously inside the engine and our video shows the detonation wave moving around the engine at supersonic speeds,” said Andrew. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Stargazer', the new hypersonic jet that will take you from Tokyo to San Francisco in an hour

United&nbsp;Airlines&nbsp;announced plans to buy 15 planes from airline startup Boom Supersonic in a move that could revive the high-speed form of air travel after the Concorde was wound down in 2003.

Under the deal,&nbsp;United&nbsp;would purchase Boom's "Overture" aircraft once the planes meet "United's demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements", with an aim to start passenger travel in 2029, the companies said in a joint press release on Thursday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-airlines-wants-to-bring-back-supersonic-air-travel-389286">United Airlines wants to bring back supersonic air travel</a>

The announcement represents a potential comeback to a once heavily-touted method of travel, although some analysts expressed scepticism, particularly over the relatively speedy timeframe.

The agreement covers 15 planes and includes an option for&nbsp;United&nbsp;to obtain another 35 aircraft. The companies did not disclose financial terms.

"It's an interesting idea, but there are a lot of questions," said Michel Merluzeau, an expert at consultancy AIR, who estimates that developing a new commercial jet that passes muster with regulators could cost $10 to $15 billion.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/boom-supersonic-jet-overture-to-begin-test-flights-in-2021-312216">Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021</a>

"We need to be realistic about this," added Merluzeau, who sees 2035 or 2040 as a more likely target date for commercial service.

Merluzeau said it also was not clear whether&nbsp;United&nbsp;had agreed to any payments or if the announcement represented an intention to purchase.&nbsp;

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Boom's plane is capable of flying at twice the speed of leading aircraft now on the market, with the potential to fly from Newark to London in three and a half hours and San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours, the companies said.

The jets will also be "net-zero" in carbon use because they will use renewable fuel.

Comeback?

Commercial supersonic jet travel was introduced in the 1970s with the Concorde, but the jets were retired in 2003 due in part to the high cost of meeting environmental restrictions on sonic booms.

The Concorde's demise also followed a 2000 Air France accident that killed 113 people.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/supersonic-travel-to-return-for-first-time-since-concorde-retired-312633">Supersonic travel to return for first time since Concorde retired</a>

The aircraft could fly at over twice the speed of sound, creating its famous "sonic boom" when it burst through the sound barrier.&nbsp;

Only the wealthiest passengers were able to afford the exorbitant ticket prices for the 100-144 seats on the aircraft, which was only ever used by Air France and British Airways.

Still, the technology is getting another look today as companies in the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States and abroad develop planes with lighter and more efficient composite materials&nbsp;and new engine designs, according to a fact sheet from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-pilotless-supersonic-combat-drone-on-sale-for-16-million-368027">World's first pilotless supersonic combat drone on sale for $16 million</a>

"Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we'll be able to do that on an even greater scale," said&nbsp;United&nbsp;Chief Executive Scott Kirby.

Peter McNally, an analyst at Third Bridge, said faster flights could be appealing to business customers, adding "the key for&nbsp;United, American and Delta is business and long-distance travel."

Founded in 2014, Denver-based Boom Supersonic said it is also working with the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States Air Force on a military version of the Overture.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-successfully-tests-supersonic-missile-assisted-release-of-torpedo-332608">India successfully tests Supersonic Missile assisted release of Torpedo</a>

The company has thus far raised $270 million from investors, a spokeswoman for Boom said. Boom Supersonic's supporters include venture capital investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners and American Express Ventures, a unit of the credit card company.

Boom's chief executive and co-founder, Blake Scholl, a former Amazon staffer, has touted the venture as a way to meet consumer interest in an increasingly interconnected world.

"The story of Concorde is the story of a journey started but not completed and we want to pick up on it," Scholl said in July 2018 at an event held in parallel to the Farnborough Airshow.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-quesst-the-second-generation-of-supersonic-planes-18325">NASA's QueSST: The second generation supersonic planes</a>

Jon Ostrower, the editor of the aviation publication The Air Current, said on Twitter that&nbsp;United's order marked a shift in a long-term industry trend.

"The last time&nbsp;United&nbsp;ordered supersonic aircraft, humans had yet to walk on the Moon," Ostrower said. "More than a half century later,&nbsp;United&nbsp;is again focusing on speed, bucking the most consistent airline trend over the past 50 years: a desire to fly cheaper, not faster."

A competing startup for supersonic travel, Aerion, shut down in May after Boeing pulled the plug on its investment.

"We couldn't get there with respect to the market and with respect to the needed investment," Boeing Chief Executive dave Calhoun said at a conference Thursday, adding that the company reached a point "where we didn't believe in it quite as much as we thought we could."

Major new investments must have meaningful upside to work at Boeing, and "we don't have to be big on every form of air travel," Calhoun added.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Airlines announced plans to buy 15 planes from airline startup Boom Supersonic in a move that could revive the high-speed form of air travel after the Concorde was wound down in 2003.

United Airlines announced plans to buy 15 planes from airline startup Boom Supersonic in a move that could revive the high-speed form of air travel after the Concorde was wound down in 2003. Under the deal, United would purchase Boom's "Overture" aircraft once the planes meet "United's demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements", with an aim to start passenger travel in 2029, the companies said in a joint press release on Thursday. Also Read | United Airlines wants to bring back supersonic air travel The announcement represents a potential comeback to a once heavily-touted method of travel, although some analysts expressed scepticism, particularly over the relatively speedy timeframe. The agreement covers 15 planes and includes an option for United to obtain another 35 aircraft. The companies did not disclose financial terms. "It's an interesting idea, but there are a lot of questions," said Michel Merluzeau, an expert at consultancy AIR, who estimates that developing a new commercial jet that passes muster with regulators could cost $10 to $15 billion. Also Read | Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021 "We need to be realistic about this," added Merluzeau, who sees 2035 or 2040 as a more likely target date for commercial service. Merluzeau said it also was not clear whether United had agreed to any payments or if the announcement represented an intention to purchase. Boom's plane is capable of flying at twice the speed of leading aircraft now on the market, with the potential to fly from Newark to London in three and a half hours and San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours, the companies said. The jets will also be "net-zero" in carbon use because they will use renewable fuel. Comeback? Commercial supersonic jet travel was introduced in the 1970s with the Concorde, but the jets were retired in 2003 due in part to the high cost of meeting environmental restrictions on sonic booms. The Concorde's demise also followed a 2000 Air France accident that killed 113 people. Also Read | Supersonic travel to return for first time since Concorde retired The aircraft could fly at over twice the speed of sound, creating its famous "sonic boom" when it burst through the sound barrier. Only the wealthiest passengers were able to afford the exorbitant ticket prices for the 100-144 seats on the aircraft, which was only ever used by Air France and British Airways. Still, the technology is getting another look today as companies in the United States and abroad develop planes with lighter and more efficient composite materials and new engine designs, according to a fact sheet from the Federal Aviation Administration. Also Read | World's first pilotless supersonic combat drone on sale for $16 million "Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we'll be able to do that on an even greater scale," said United Chief Executive Scott Kirby. Peter McNally, an analyst at Third Bridge, said faster flights could be appealing to business customers, adding "the key for United, American and Delta is business and long-distance travel." Founded in 2014, Denver-based Boom Supersonic said it is also working with the United States Air Force on a military version of the Overture. Also Read | India successfully tests Supersonic Missile assisted release of Torpedo The company has thus far raised $270 million from investors, a spokeswoman for Boom said. Boom Supersonic's supporters include venture capital investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners and American Express Ventures, a unit of the credit card company. Boom's chief executive and co-founder, Blake Scholl, a former Amazon staffer, has touted the venture as a way to meet consumer interest in an increasingly interconnected world. "The story of Concorde is the story of a journey started but not completed and we want to pick up on it," Scholl said in July 2018 at an event held in parallel to the Farnborough Airshow. Also Read | NASA's QueSST: The second generation supersonic planes Jon Ostrower, the editor of the aviation publication The Air Current, said on Twitter that United's order marked a shift in a long-term industry trend. "The last time United ordered supersonic aircraft, humans had yet to walk on the Moon," Ostrower said. "More than a half century later, United is again focusing on speed, bucking the most consistent airline trend over the past 50 years: a desire to fly cheaper, not faster." A competing startup for supersonic travel, Aerion, shut down in May after Boeing pulled the plug on its investment. "We couldn't get there with respect to the market and with respect to the needed investment," Boeing Chief Executive dave Calhoun said at a conference Thursday, adding that the company reached a point "where we didn't believe in it quite as much as we thought we could." Major new investments must have meaningful upside to work at Boeing, and "we don't have to be big on every form of air travel," Calhoun added. (With inputs from agencies)

United Airlines unveils plan to revive supersonic jet travel

Concorde crash: As families pay tributes, here's what happened 20 years ago

A brand new supersonic jet is preparing for lift off almost after 50 years after Concorde first took to the skies -- the legendary delta-wing passenger airliner made its last flight in 2003.

Denver based start-up Boom Supersonic has announced it will roll out XB-1, a 1:3 scale prototype of its upcoming supersonic commercial jet Overture, on October 7, with test flights beginning in 2021.

"XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic travel back to the world," Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, said in a statement on the company's website.

He added, "Flights at twice the speed mean we can travel twice as far -- bringing more people, places, and cultures into our lives."

"Our experiences in the Covid-19 pandemic underscore for all of us the fundamental human need for personal connection. Faster travel enables us to experience the world's people, cultures, and places. With XB-1, we're demonstrating that we are prepared to bring back supersonic."

According to Boom, the purpose of XB-1 is to demonstrate and prove the "key technologies" for Overture, such as advanced carbon fiber composite construction and computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/boom-supersonic-jet-overture-to-begin-test-flights-in-2021-312216">IN PICS |&nbsp;Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021</a>

The results of the XB-1 test programme, which claims to be 100% carbon neutral, will allow the company to fine tune the design for supersonic airliner Overture.

"We're ensuring that the supersonic future is safe and environmentally and economically sustainable," he added.

"We've learned that the demand for supersonic has grown even faster than we anticipated."

If all goes to plan, Overture, which is designed to seat between 55 to 75 people, will begin passenger flights in 2030. It will focus on over 500 primarily transoceanic routes that will benefit from the aircraft's Mach-2.2 speeds -- such as New York to London, a journey that would take just three hours and 15 minutes.

The aircraft will only fly at supersonic speeds over oceans in order to ensure that populated areas are not affected by sonic booms.

A brand new supersonic jet is preparing for lift off almost after 50 years after Concorde first took to the skies -- the legendary delta-wing passenger airliner made its last flight in 2003.

A brand new supersonic jet is preparing for lift off almost after 50 years after Concorde first took to the skies -- the legendary delta-wing passenger airliner made its last flight in 2003. Denver based start-up Boom Supersonic has announced it will roll out XB-1, a 1:3 scale prototype of its upcoming supersonic commercial jet Overture, on October 7, with test flights beginning in 2021. "XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic travel back to the world," Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, said in a statement on the company's website. He added, "Flights at twice the speed mean we can travel twice as far -- bringing more people, places, and cultures into our lives." "Our experiences in the Covid-19 pandemic underscore for all of us the fundamental human need for personal connection. Faster travel enables us to experience the world's people, cultures, and places. With XB-1, we're demonstrating that we are prepared to bring back supersonic." According to Boom, the purpose of XB-1 is to demonstrate and prove the "key technologies" for Overture, such as advanced carbon fiber composite construction and computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics. IN PICS | Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021 The results of the XB-1 test programme, which claims to be 100% carbon neutral, will allow the company to fine tune the design for supersonic airliner Overture. "We're ensuring that the supersonic future is safe and environmentally and economically sustainable," he added. "We've learned that the demand for supersonic has grown even faster than we anticipated." If all goes to plan, Overture, which is designed to seat between 55 to 75 people, will begin passenger flights in 2030. It will focus on over 500 primarily transoceanic routes that will benefit from the aircraft's Mach-2.2 speeds -- such as New York to London, a journey that would take just three hours and 15 minutes. The aircraft will only fly at supersonic speeds over oceans in order to ensure that populated areas are not affected by sonic booms.

Supersonic travel to return for first time since Concorde retired

For the first time since Concorde, a new supersonic civil aircraft will be unveiled. The XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic travel around the world again. Watch report.

Prototype XB-1 to be unveiled in October 2020: Overture Supersonic Passenger Jet

Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021

March 2 in history: Alexander II becomes Tsar of Russia, Concorde's maiden flight and more!

By Aimen Zaki

Taking a step forward in supersonic transport, NASA has decided to build a supersonic aircraft for commercial&nbsp;use.

NASA is all set to launch Quiet Supersonic Technology(QueSST) X-Plane which will mark a comeback of supersonic flights after Concorde retired in 2003.

NASA in a report has also confirmed that it has conducted few experimental flights in Florida&#39;s space coast. The agency is also planning to get a&nbsp;better understanding of the impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;low-altitude atmospheric turbulence on sonic booms by continuing with its&nbsp;assessment in Florida. NASA has worked out its design for the supersonic plane in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

According to a report, the new supersonic aircraft is 94 feet long with room for one pilot. The overall budget for the project is nearly $390 million.

Last year, NASA administrator Charles Bolden had said: &ldquo;NASA is working hard to make flight greener, safer and quieter &ndash; all while developing aircraft that travel faster, and building an aviation system that operates more efficiently.&rdquo;

&ldquo;To that end, it&rsquo;s worth noting that it&#39;s been almost 70 years since Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 as part of our predecessor agency&#39;s high-speed research. Now we&rsquo;re continuing that supersonic X-plane legacy with this preliminary design award for a quieter supersonic jet with an aim toward passenger flight,&quot; Bolden added.&nbsp;

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Nasa is all set to build the new Quiet Supersonic Technology X-Plane which could have flight times. (Image source: Lockheed Martin) (Others)
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The new supersonic passenger plane is designed to fly at 55,000 feet above the ground. The design also proposes to solve the noise problem that is associated with such aircrafts. NASA with its new project is aiming at establishing an advance low-sound supersonic flight that will be a revolutionary step in the supersonic aerospace industry.

Commercial supersonic transports became a reality in the 20th century with the two supersonic planes: Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144.

Concorde

&nbsp;

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British Airways Concorde (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)
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Concorde was an elite supersonic passenger jet airliner that was introduced as part of a joint venture by the UK and French government on March 2, 1969. The aircraft was a huge success as it travelled with a speed of over twice the speed of sound.&nbsp;

It was generally preferred by rich passengers who could afford the tickets of the supersonic flight. It soon became a hotspot for high profile Hollywood bigwigs&nbsp;and rock stars.

The Concorde&#39;s budget in 1962 was projected at &pound;160m which would be around &pound;2 billion&nbsp;in today&#39;s money.

However, Concorde flights were discontinued following a plane crash on July 25, 2000 in Gonesse near Paris in which a hundred passengers were killed. The fall in air travel after 9/11 attacks was&nbsp;also a major reason for its retirement.&nbsp;

Tupolev Tu-144

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Tupolev Tu-144 (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)
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The supersonic aircraft was Russian-built Tu-144. The plane was a product of the former&nbsp;USSR and flew for twenty years - 1963 to 1983.&nbsp;

Apparently, Russia could not solve the problems faced by the Tu-144 flight services that included cabin noise, higher oil prices&nbsp;and various structural failures.&nbsp;

Now with&nbsp;the second generation NASA supersonic airliners in the horizon, the age of supersonic flights could be making a comeback with the QueSST.&nbsp;

NASA is all set to launch Quiet Supersonic Technology X-Plane which will mark a comeback of supersonic flights after Concorde retired in 2003

By Aimen Zaki Taking a step forward in supersonic transport, NASA has decided to build a supersonic aircraft for commercial use. NASA is all set to launch Quiet Supersonic Technology(QueSST) X-Plane which will mark a comeback of supersonic flights after Concorde retired in 2003. NASA in a report has also confirmed that it has conducted few experimental flights in Florida's space coast. The agency is also planning to get a better understanding of the impact of low-altitude atmospheric turbulence on sonic booms by continuing with its assessment in Florida. NASA has worked out its design for the supersonic plane in collaboration with Lockheed Martin. According to a report, the new supersonic aircraft is 94 feet long with room for one pilot. The overall budget for the project is nearly $390 million. Last year, NASA administrator Charles Bolden had said: “NASA is working hard to make flight greener, safer and quieter – all while developing aircraft that travel faster, and building an aviation system that operates more efficiently.” “To that end, it’s worth noting that it's been almost 70 years since Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 as part of our predecessor agency's high-speed research. Now we’re continuing that supersonic X-plane legacy with this preliminary design award for a quieter supersonic jet with an aim toward passenger flight," Bolden added. Nasa is all set to build the new Quiet Supersonic Technology X-Plane which could have flight times. (Image source: Lockheed Martin) (Others) × The new supersonic passenger plane is designed to fly at 55,000 feet above the ground. The design also proposes to solve the noise problem that is associated with such aircrafts. NASA with its new project is aiming at establishing an advance low-sound supersonic flight that will be a revolutionary step in the supersonic aerospace industry. Commercial supersonic transports became a reality in the 20th century with the two supersonic planes: Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144. Concorde British Airways Concorde (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others) × Concorde was an elite supersonic passenger jet airliner that was introduced as part of a joint venture by the UK and French government on March 2, 1969. The aircraft was a huge success as it travelled with a speed of over twice the speed of sound. It was generally preferred by rich passengers who could afford the tickets of the supersonic flight. It soon became a hotspot for high profile Hollywood bigwigs and rock stars. The Concorde's budget in 1962 was projected at £160m which would be around £2 billion in today's money. However, Concorde flights were discontinued following a plane crash on July 25, 2000 in Gonesse near Paris in which a hundred passengers were killed. The fall in air travel after 9/11 attacks was also a major reason for its retirement. Tupolev Tu-144 Tupolev Tu-144 (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others) × The supersonic aircraft was Russian-built Tu-144. The plane was a product of the former USSR and flew for twenty years - 1963 to 1983. Apparently, Russia could not solve the problems faced by the Tu-144 flight services that included cabin noise, higher oil prices and various structural failures. Now with the second generation NASA supersonic airliners in the horizon, the age of supersonic flights could be making a comeback with the QueSST.

NASA's QueSST: The second generation supersonic planes

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