Supersonic Flights on the Horizon

On Thursday June 3, 2021 United Airlines announced plans to offer supersonic flights. These flights will travel faster than the speed of sound. They may be available as soon as 2029. United has ordered 15 supersonic jets from Boom, a start up company based in Denver, Colorado.

History of Supersonic Flights

The first aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds was way back in 1947. That aircraft was a military research plane. The last supersonic flights were on the Concorde. The Concorde, which was a joint venture between France and the U.K., had its first flight in 1973. Only 14 Concorde planes were ever built. The Concorde stopped operations  in 2003 due to excessive operating expense, noise and other pollution and related environmental concerns.

United’s Planned Initial Flight

United plans its first itinerary from Newark Airport to London. The anticipated flight time will be just 3 1/2 hours.

The first of the 15 supersonic jets is expected to be delivered by Boom in 2026. Actual flights are planned for 2029.

Hurdles and Environmental Goals

In addition to regulatory and other hurdles, what complicates these planned flights is environmental concerns. United wants to avoid the environmental concerns of the Concorde by being as environmentally conscious as possible. This includes a plan to use only sustainable aviation fuel.