BOOM BOOM POW
UNITED Airlines has just bought 15 supersonic planes from start-up company Boom Supersonic.
This purchase seems to mark the return of supersonic air travel.
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What are the supersonic planes United Airlines is buying?
The 15 supersonic planes that bought from Boom Supersonic are called "The Overture" planes.
It flies at a speed known as Mach 1.7.
For purposes of reference, Mach 1 is considered the speed of sound, and translates to about 760 miles per hour.
The Overture planes, then, fly faster than the speed of sound.
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To put it in a unit of time, then, a flight from to London would take about 7 hours on a regular United Airlines jet flight.
But on a United Airlines Overture flight, it would take about 3 hours.
What are the details of the United Airlines deal with Boom Supersonic?
The initial commitment from United Airlines to Boom Supersonic was for the delivery of 15 supersonic planes.
United Airlines also made the commitment to buy 35 more Boom Supersonic planes "at some point."
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By one estimate, United's stake in the deal is about $3billion.
However, it will take some time for these supersonic jets to be rolled out.
When will United Airlines roll out the Boom Supersonic planes?
As of this writing, The Overture hasn't been built, or even certified.
Its target date for passenger service is in 2029.
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But United Airlines is still very confident about the deal.
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“Boom’s vision for the future of commercial aviation, combined with the industry’s most robust network in the world, will give business and leisure travelers access to a stellar flight experience,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.
The Overture will mark the first time supersonic travel has returned to the airlines
The Concorde, jointly owned by Air France and British Airways, flew from 1976 until 2003.
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