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Successful Supersonic Jet Launch

Posted by Zonk on from the that-was-quick dept.

Cave_Monster writes "Japan has hailed the test of a supersonic jet in South Australia's outback as a success. Unlike the attempt in 2002, this test saw the jet launch successfully from Woomera, South Australia." From the article: "Data gained through the test will be used in joint research by Japan and France towards a next-generation supersonic jet. No budget projections have yet been made for the entire project, which Japanese hope will produce a supersonic passenger jet capable of flying from Tokyo to New York in just under six hours - less than half the current time of a Concorde." We reported on the plan to do this, earlier.

6 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. The Concorde doesn't go that fast any more... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... since they grounded the fleet.

  2. Intercontinental US by pwnage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wonder how they're going to make that time with the current FAA restrictions that do not permit supersonic travel by passenger jets within the continental United States?

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    1. Re:Intercontinental US by OneArmedMan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Considering that NewYork and Tokyo are just about on opposite sides of the world, i would suggest that they do an "over the top shot" and go via the North Pole.

      By going that route, so long as the plane could pass the required regulations for minimum safe distance from a landing zone ( sorry i cant remember what its called ) , they would be able to do just about the entire flight with out coming anywhere near land at all.

      Take off and landing aside.

  3. Sorry by NineNine · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, "over the top" flights are the standard procedure for the suggested New York to Tokyo and similar flights. Happens every day.

  4. Did you know... by gibbo2 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That Woomera was named after an Aboriginal device to assist spear-throwing?

    Wikipedia link

    I've always thought it's a very fitting name for the town since it's where most of Australia's missle and rocket launches are done from. Whether it is just co-incidence or not I don't know, but it's quite appropriate.

  5. Re:Sounds fun by pomo+monster · · Score: 5, Informative

    The people who would take a flight like this, at least initially, would be the kinds of people who could be given a special pass to speed through security and baggage check: business executives, financiers, wealthy celebs, politicians (excepting senior senators from Massachusetts), and the like. In a world population of six and a half billion, there's only a few thousand of these people, maybe a couple tens of thousands at most, who would be using this flight as a speedier replacement for private or company jets. With this relatively miniscule customer base, it wouldn't be hard to prescreen them all.

    Hell, airlines already have the apparatus in place with existing programs: "When they make the cut, Global Services members are issued a black Global Services card, a leather-bound welcome kit and phone numbers of agents trained to see after their needs. Then the fun begins. The chosen ones are escorted through the security line and ushered into secret waiting lounges..."

    And besides, for some of these people, time is the most valuable asset they have. Shaving a few hours off a flight, even supposing they still have to endure the rubber gloved finger in the ass, is a priceless extra few hours they can spend with their families, their consorts, or whatever.