Supersonic Transport (SST) and Concorde

• SST refers to Supersonic Transport, passenger aircraft exceeding the speed of sound.

Early SST Development

• The mid-20th century saw the emergence of SST development, fueled by national prestige and the desire for faster air travel.
• The British and French collaborated on the Concorde, while the Soviet Union developed the Tu-144.
• The United States pursued an SST program but later abandoned it, citing economic and environmental concerns.

Concorde

• The Concorde was a joint venture between the UK and France.
• Its first flight took place in 1969, with commercial service beginning in 1976.
• Its maximum speed was Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 km/h).
• It could cross the Atlantic in under four hours, approximately half the time of conventional subsonic jets.
• The Concorde was known for its delta-wing design, high fuel consumption, and sonic boom.
• Only 20 Concordes were built, including prototypes and test aircraft.
• British Airways and Air France were its primary operators.
• In 2003, the Concorde was retired due to increasing maintenance costs, a decline in air travel after the September 11 attacks, and the fatal crash of Air France Flight 4590 in 2000.

Tu-144

• The Tu-144 was a Soviet SST, often called "Concordski" due to visual similarities to the Concorde.
• Its first flight was in 1968, earlier than the Concorde's first flight.
• The Tu-144's development was problematic, marked by a crash at the 1973 Paris Air Show.
• Passenger service was briefly introduced in 1977 but was soon discontinued.
• Later, it served cargo flights and research.
• The Tu-144 was faster than the Concorde, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 2.15 (1,424 mph or 2,291 km/h).
• It featured a retractable canard to enhance low-speed handling.
• The Tu-144 had issues relating to reliability, fuel efficiency, and noise.

Boeing 2707

• The Boeing 2707 was the proposed American SST design.
• The design evolved significantly, initially featuring a swing-wing configuration.
• Due to concerns about cost, noise pollution, and environmental impact, the program was canceled in 1971.
• The Boeing 2707, if built, would have been larger than the Concorde, accommodating about 300 passengers.

Reasons for Limited SST Success

• High operating costs resulted from significantly higher fuel consumption than subsonic aircraft.
• Sonic booms restricted routes primarily to overwater travel, due to noise pollution.
• Environmental concerns arose from emissions that raised concerns about ozone depletion.
• The market was limited because of the high ticket prices.
• Advanced and expensive technologies were needed to develop and maintain SSTs, presenting major technological challenges.

Sonic Boom

• A sonic boom is a loud sound produced by an object moving faster than the speed of sound.
• Sonic booms pose a significant obstacle for SSTs, restricting their operation over populated areas.
• Aircraft size, shape, and speed affect the intensity of a sonic boom.

Environmental Impact

• SSTs were believed to negatively affect the ozone layer because of their high-altitude emissions.
• The amount of emitted carbon dioxide contributed to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Some SST projects were canceled because of their environmental effects.

Current SST Research

• There is a renewed interest in supersonic and hypersonic flight.
• Current research is directed at overcoming the challenges of earlier SSTs, specifically noise and fuel efficiency.
• Supersonic business jets are being developed by some companies.
• Advanced engine designs and noise reduction techniques are among the new technologies being explored.
• Boom Technology is one company seeking to revive commercial supersonic flight.

Hypersonic Aircraft

• Hypersonic aircraft exceed Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
• Hypersonic flight is more challenging than supersonic flight.
• Hypersonic technology is being explored for both military and civilian applications.
• Research includes development of scramjet engines.

This content covers the development and history of Supersonic Transport (SST) aircraft, focusing on the Concorde. It details the Anglo-French collaboration, Concorde's specifications, and its impact on air travel. The material also touches on other SST programs and the reasons for their decline.