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Japan Plans Test of 'New Concorde'

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the yes-please-go-faster-please dept.

Steve Nixon writes "Japan's space agency plans to launch an arrow-shaped airplane at twice the speed of sound high over the Australian outback as early as next month in a crucial test of the country's push to develop a supersonic successor to the retired Concorde."

17 of 424 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm (from TFA) by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If the 1.1 billion yen ($10 million) experiment works, Japan's space agency plans to follow up with similar tests of a jet-powered craft, Kyodo News Agency reported.

    I, for one, think it would be infinitly cooler to fly in a rocketship than in a crummy supersonic jet.

    --
    I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
  2. heh by domipheus · · Score: 1, Funny

    The craft will float back to earth by parachute after the 15 minute flight.

    Bert: *looks up* Is that a... what the hell is that falling towards us?
    Ernie: Looks like it's just a plane, Bert.
    Bert: Ohh yeah so it is. Imagine that.

  3. Seen it already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This was seen in the skies over Tokyo in the 1960s. At least the beak is the same.

  4. Yeah, but is it robot controlled? by N8F8 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It ain't cool unless it got a robot.

    --
    "God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon, Marshal of France - speaking truth to power
    1. Re:Yeah, but is it robot controlled? by ukleafer · · Score: 2, Funny

      They do, if they suspect one of the packs to be out of order. As soon as you go above 10,000ft in those circumstances, one of the pilots should be wearing a mask.

      Asking one of the pilots to wear one at all times while airborne is like asking you to wear a lifejacket while you're taking a walk in the park, just in case you fall into the lake.

    2. Re:Yeah, but is it robot controlled? by Viol8 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Their brains wouldn't swell up since they're not exposed directly to the atmosphere. They have this thing called The Skull surrounding them you know.

  5. This is Japan we're talking about by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The entire PLANE is probably a robot. With superfluous robot crew and robot stewardesses with creepy hands.

    --
    I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
    1. Re:This is Japan we're talking about by Drooling+Iguana · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, no, the plane turns into a robot.

      --
      ... I'm addicted to placebos
    2. Re:This is Japan we're talking about by LifesABeach · · Score: 2, Funny

      Rocket Plane: "GodzillaX, at 100 miles in the slot, request ILS approach"
      Tokyo Tower: "Toy Plane 2, you are cleared for downwind approach behind the Mothera 747 traveling heavy."

      Japan's FAA is going to have my butt on a sword if something like this happens for real. :0)

      Also; It would cool if the booster took the aircraft up to an altitude of 60 miles before letting go.

  6. Re:Our technical peak was the 60's? by Ced_Ex · · Score: 3, Funny

    When was the last time we sent someone to the moon? The 60's. And the last time a supersonic plane was developed? The 60's. Is it just money? Why else did we begin to achieve notable success in aerospace in the 60's, and then backslide to where we are now? By 2020 we hope to be back where we were in the 60's. Great.

    I believe the drop in development seems to be curiously related to the drop in the use of slide-rulers and the subsequent usage of electronic calculators.

    Quick, someone smart research this and back me up.

    --
    Live forever, or die trying.
  7. Re:Not really very impressive. by pohl · · Score: 4, Funny
    The Concorde carried 100 passengers at Mach 2, or 50 passengers per Mach...this new plane will do three times the number of passengers-per-Mach as the Concorde, which works out to a rate of advancement of 3.75 passengers-per-mach-per-year.

    I just wrote that because I thought passengers-per-Mach was an amusing metric.

    --

    The "cue the foo posts in 3, 2, 1..." posts will commence with no subsequent foo posts in 3, 2, 1...

  8. Re:Our technical peak was the 60's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    But at least now we have Pokémon.

  9. Ugh by mattcurrie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did anyone else read JAXA as AJAX? ~_~

    Damn that horrible buzzword. Damn it to hell!

  10. Re:Our technical peak was the 60's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    and it will run continuously for years without any maintenance beyond keeping it reasonably clean

    Which is more than enough trouble for the average slashdotter...

  11. Transform? by Franklinstein · · Score: 2, Funny
    Does it even transform into anything? No?! How disappointing....

  12. Re:Arrow shaped, hmm by twifosp · · Score: 4, Funny
    Cool but is it tested for aerodynamics?

    Nope, they are just going to wing it. According to the article, there aren't even any engineers on the project. Only anime artists who are concerned with making the shape "as arrow as possible".

  13. I have a plan.. by seven+of+five · · Score: 2, Funny

    We could send people from Nebraska to Beijing in a half-hour AND solve the ICBM stockpiling problem!