A supersonic plane will make New York

The S-512 supersonic aircraft under development aims to reduce the flight time from London to New York to just 90 minutes. The American company Spike Aerospace aims to commercialize this ambitious flight by 2028.

The S-512 only will carry 18 passengers, and it is not a recommended flight for those who do not like to feel enclosed, since the manufacturers assured that the plane will not have windows to increase fuel efficiency and keep the cabin quiet.

On the other hand, the interior walls will be lined with long HD screens that can be divided into individual televisions and show any view that the passenger wants, be it the environment of their plane in real time, a movie or a presentation of work, all controlled with the cell phone. In addition, the jet seats will also be convertible, so the cabin can be transformed into a boardroom, a bedroom or a dining room.

Initially, the supersonic aircraft will aim to achieve a speed of Mach 1.6, or 1,900 km / h. At that rate, the transatlantic trip would take about three and a half hours. However, the company has big plans to increase the speed to Mach 3.2 (almost 4,000 km / h) and reduce the flight time to an hour and a half in the next decade, which will make a day trip on business possible. Or a quick jaunt to Paris from Dubai for shopping or entertainment, and be home in time for dinner.

S-512 vs Concorde

This new aircraft is not the first to perform this feat. Between 1976 and 2003, the Concorde was the supersonic aircraft of choice for those who wanted to cross the Atlantic in a short time. It was carrying 100 passengers at a maximum altitude of 18,300 meters and a cruising speed of Mach 2.02, or 2,410 km / h, more than twice the average speed of conventional aircraft.

Although it worked for more than 20 years, its excessive fuel consumption and noise generated by reaching the speed of sound contributed to its commercial decline. Many of its routes over land were prohibited due to the noise pollution it generated over the cities.

The novel design of the S-152 and the absence of windows makes it much quieter than its predecessor and it is the only supersonic aircraft in development that will fly without the disruptive effect of the sonic blast that is banned globally. It has a sonic signature that is expected to be less than 75 PLdb (perceived loudness level) at ground level, meaning it will sound like a soft clap or muffled background noise. This is what is known as Silent Supersonic Flight and it is the future of this type of travel.

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