US move to allow overland supersonic flight

[Ediswan]

(The Concorde replacement thread is closed.)

US legal move to allow overland supersonic flight, so long as no boom reaches the ground.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/17/faa_supersonic_law/

The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act would allow America's aviation watchdog to issue licenses allowing flights over land "at a Mach number greater than one so long as the aircraft is operated in such a manner that no sonic boom reaches the ground in the United States," the legislation states.

 

[nlogax]

(The Concorde replacement thread is closed.)

US legal move to allow overland supersonic flight, so long as no boom reaches the ground.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/17/faa_supersonic_law/

All well and good but the mach cutoff technique (which is being described in that El Reg piece) is the lease fuel efficient of all cruise modes so it remains to be determined how useful this easing of rules would be.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

All well and good but the mach cutoff technique (which is being described in that El Reg piece) is the lease fuel efficient of all cruise modes so it remains to be determined how useful this easing of rules would be.

The Boom Overture will have a new type of engine ( Symphony - the test example is currently about 75% built ) in it which they hope will solve that particular issue.

 

[Meerkat]

Is this going to be used by airlines or just for executive jets for the super rich?

 

[AlastairFraser]

Is this going to be used by airlines or just for executive jets for the super rich?

One of the superfast airliners mentioned above (the Boom Overture) has provisional orders from several mainstream airlines (Japan Airlines/American Airlines/United), and is expected to be used in a business class configuration.
So expensive for your average economy traveller, but not completely inaccessible.

 

[Bald Rick]

One of the superfast airliners mentioned above (the Boom Overture) has provisional orders from several mainstream airlines (Japan Airlines/American Airlines/United), and is expected to be used in a business class configuration.
So expensive for your average economy traveller, but not completely inaccessible.

Don’t forget Concorde had provisional orders for between 70-100 aircraft (depending on what you count as a provisional order…)

 

[ainsworth74]

So expensive for your average economy traveller, but not completely inaccessible.

Not entirely unlike Concord in that regard!

 

[edwin_m]

Can't help thinking Boom Supersonic is an unfortunate name reminding people of their big problem. Rather like if you named a nuclear company Fallout International.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Don’t forget Concorde had provisional orders for between 70-100 aircraft (depending on what you count as a provisional order…)

Fair point, although air travel has grown substantially since Concorde was developed.

Not entirely unlike Concord in that regard!

True!