Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Boom Supersonic to break sound barrier during historic test flight today

space.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 124 posts

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

#81

Post by nradov »

kachapopopow wrote: post #50
nradov wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The military does not have relatively silent supersonic flight. Only a few US military aircraft models are even capable of supersonic flight, and they're plenty loud. In order to avoid complaints they normally they only fly that fast over designated exercise areas. The Boom aircraft incorporates some quiet supersonic technology but until they actually test it they won't know whether it's actually quiet enough.

'commercial' military planes - no, prototypes - yes.

Prototypes - no. There is the X-59 but that's civilian (operated by NASA), not military. Some of the research results from the X-59 program are being used by Boom and future military designs.

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

#82

Post by Ajedi32 »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #21
HeatrayEnjoyer wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not going to be an option, tickets will be tens of thousands of dollars

> tickets will be tens of thousands of dollars So about what a Golden Era international flight cost, inflation adjusted [1]. Not bad. [1] https://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/history-o...

It's obviously not going to be competing with prices from 60 years ago, it'll be competing with prices from today. Probably with first class tickets and private charter flights. I'm sure there's probably a suitable niche in there somewhere.

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

#83

Post by zhoujianfu »

DanielHB wrote: post #70

As someone who travels cross-atlantic semi-occasionally my price threshold for a 50% shorter flight is 25% increased cost. This is coming from a relatively well off middle-aged software engineer. It is hard to think that this tech will ever be common besides a few "high status" (NY->London) routes like the concord was. It is my understanding that fuel costs increase as speed increases so there is no way this could ev…

I believe boom has suggested it would only cut about 30% of the time off, and cost 3x.. not to mention needing to refuel to cross the pacific. :/

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

#84

Post by tiahura »

Am I the only one who wonders about the market for this? How many will actually choose 2-4x price vs business class? With inflight high speed internet, and video conferencing in general, the number of people who can’t spare 3 hours (during which they can be doing other work) seems small?

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

#85

Post by tiahura »

zhoujianfu wrote: post #83
DanielHB wrote: post #70

As someone who travels cross-atlantic semi-occasionally my price threshold for a 50% shorter flight is 25% increased cost. This is coming from a relatively well off middle-aged software engineer. It is hard to think that this tech will ever be common besides a few "high status" (NY->London) routes like the concord was. It is my understanding that fuel costs increase as speed increases so there is no way this could ev…

I believe boom has suggested it would only cut about 30% of the time off, and cost 3x.. not to mention needing to refuel to cross the pacific. :/

What’s Boom’s track record on accurately predicting final ticket prices?

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

#86

Post by kachapopopow »

nradov wrote: post #81
kachapopopow wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'commercial' military planes - no, prototypes - yes.

Prototypes - no. There is the X-59 but that's civilian (operated by NASA), not military. Some of the research results from the X-59 program are being used by Boom and future military designs.

Obviously as some point the military would have researched this technology, that's not even a question. We will make know more in few decades or so once that information is declassified.

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

#87

Post by DanielHB »

zhoujianfu wrote: post #83
DanielHB wrote: post #70

As someone who travels cross-atlantic semi-occasionally my price threshold for a 50% shorter flight is 25% increased cost. This is coming from a relatively well off middle-aged software engineer. It is hard to think that this tech will ever be common besides a few "high status" (NY->London) routes like the concord was. It is my understanding that fuel costs increase as speed increases so there is no way this could ev…

I believe boom has suggested it would only cut about 30% of the time off, and cost 3x.. not to mention needing to refuel to cross the pacific. :/

I think those values would make it viable for a few routes, but what really matters is long term savings. Like if they can fly supersonic overland and increase fuel efficiency more than traditional sub-sonic jet engines.

To me it seems if those numbers can't get better then the endeavor is not going to pay off the investment for the few routes that would be able to work at those numbers.

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

#88

Post by kachapopopow »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #76
kachapopopow wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oh I got distracted writing that, I meant real problems with supersonic flight lose relevance and start opening ways to have super sonic flights over ground just to save some time.

> super sonic flights over ground just to save some time That’s the intention. My question is why others’ time is of so little value to you?

I don't know, I just never felt the pressure of time past the age of around 17 so I cannot relate anymore. I started to enjoy live significantly more by not worrying about such things.

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

#89

Post by yread »

kachapopopow wrote: post #26
cnlevy wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just love spending time in rush hour traffic \s

Having to drive in bumper to bumper traffic versus chilling in a large chair either working on a laptop, watching a movie or just sleeping (or well if you can't afford it in which case this is very irreverent due to ticket prices).

> chilling in a large chair either working on a laptop, watching a movie or just sleeping

Are you talking about trains?

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

#90

Post by ghc »

kachapopopow wrote: post #12
ghc wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the entire premise of 2-3 hour faster flights over the atlantic is just not that appealing Clearly you don't have kids.

[flagged]

Those are pretty short flights though. My kids get antsy when the flight is 7+ hours. I agree though that short (<6h) flights are no issue.
Post reply on HN