Overture Supersonic Aircraft:
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These are futuristic supersonic aircrafts.
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These aircrafts are planned to be open for passengers by 2029.
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Supersonic aircraft are planes that can fly faster than the speed of sound.
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Usually, supersonic planes can travel at the speed of around 900 kmph, twice the speed of normal aircraft.
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Concorde, the British-French turbojet-powered commercial airliner, was the first aircraft to carry passengers at supersonic speed.
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But eventually, the aircraft had to be discontinued due to cost and other concerns.
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Features of Overture supersonic aircraft:
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The Overture supersonic aircraft would travel at the speed of Mach 1.7 or 1,805 kmph. In a single flight, it could carry 65 to 88 passengers.
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The aircraft will also not be noisy, as supersonic planes in the past were, as it aims for “zero overland noise.”
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Zero overland noise essentially means that the aircraft will fly at supersonic speeds only overwater. Thereby ensuring no sonic boom or excessive noise reaches the surfaces where people live.
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Challenges with Supersonic Flights:
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Environment Pollution: The costs of making sustainable supersonic planes are extremely high. This is because using excessive amounts of fuel and energy is likely to have high environmental costs.
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Excessive Noise: Travelling faster than the speed of sound causes a sonic boom which can be heard on the ground as a loud thunderclap or explosion. This limits where and when the supersonic planes can fly.
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High Cost: Supersonic aircraft would not be economically feasible for everyone. Only the very rich can afford supersonic planes, as a ticket is likely to be way more costlier than a first-class ticket of a regular plane.