Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today • Hacker News Board

Re: Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today

#121

Post by mmustapic » Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 12:21 PM UTC

K0balt wrote: post #120

mmustapic wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m sure this one will be. If they are planning to make it more efficient than subsonic trips, it would be the first thing you would see in the website, or at least the FAQ. Supersonic flight is very cool, but for me this is just like Bugatti announcing a faster car for the rich, or an airline showing its first class luxury cabin: not very interesting.

I agree that this particular aircraft / project has limited potential. What I am most excited about is the potential for advancement of the field that could lead to realizing the potential benefits in supersonic transport. It’s like props vs jets. Jet aircraft were less efficient but faster… until the altitude benefits made them more efficient and faster. Flying at the edge of space is the next step in that speed/ ef…

I would be exited if there were doing that, something really revolutionary, being faster with less fuel, or at least, flying at the same speed with less fuel. Unfortunately, it's something for the rich masquerading as an improvement for the entire world.

Still happy for the engineers working on this, they are probably having a great time designing a new aircraft.

Re: Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today

#122

Post by kachapopopow » Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 1:09 PM UTC

tstrimple wrote: post #108

kachapopopow wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Efficiency actually increases the faster you go at some point until a certain limit due to being able to ride the 'boom' turning the energy required to keep the plane up into energy that pushes you forward, there's also special things that happen to friction when you pierce the barrier which are still being researched. Flying higher also means less molecules hitting your cruiser.

Essentially supercavitation in the air?

You can call it that, I guess.

Re: Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today

#123

Post by bongodongobob » Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 11:35 PM UTC

kachapopopow wrote: post #10

bongodongobob wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you done an 8 hour flight in economy? It's absolutely miserable. Noise pollution over the Atlantic affects literally noone.

Yes and if you're talking about economy you will never be able to set foot on a plane like this either. There are proposals to have this over land as well which I am very strongly against to the point of not wanting a company like this to be successful.

I don't care if I can't, some people can. Good for them.

Re: Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today

#124

Post by bongodongobob » Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 11:35 PM UTC

mmustapic wrote: post #96

bongodongobob wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you done an 8 hour flight in economy? It's absolutely miserable. Noise pollution over the Atlantic affects literally noone.

You can pay for business or first class. Supersonic flights won’t be cheaper.

Didn't say they would be.