Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet could fly London to New York in 90 minutes
The makers of a supersonic jet that could fly from London to New York in just 90 minutes have revealed what passengers can expect from the extraordinary flight.
Capable of seating 18 people, the cabin inside the Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet would feature a large seating area that could be converted to beds or a dining area, as well as flat-screen TVs.
But there will no cabin windows on the plane, as the structural support required for windows tends to create drag and add weight to the aircraft.
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Makers of the aircraft say it can fly between New York and London in less than two hours. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
With no windows, long TV screens will project views taken by cameras outside the plane. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
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Instead, large screens on the sides of the cabin will stream real-time panoramic footage taken by video cameras outside the fuselage, so passengers can still see what it’s like outside.
Ditching windows also makes the cabin extra quiet, Spike Aerospace founder and CEO Vik Kachoria told the UK’s The Telegraph.
“The Concorde was ridiculously noisy,” he said, in reference to the defunct supersonic passenger airliner that could travel at twice the speed of sound.
The seats can convert into beds. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
The seating can be converted into a conference room. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
“Most conversations between two people are between 65 and 75 decibels and the noise level found within most plane cabins is around 85 decibels.
“Our windowless aircraft will be about 60 decibels, so lower than the sound of a conversation.”
Seating on the aircraft is convertible, so it can be adapted for sleeping, sitting or even holding conferences.
Images of the galley show a fancy coffee machine, built-in sink and counter space as well as a large fridge with chilled drinks.
The galley is much fancier than ones you find on commercial jets. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
The dining set up. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
While the flights won’t be cheap, they could eventually be a similar price to business class tickets, Mr Kachoria said.
“Remember, almost every technological innovation we’ve had has started out for the uber-rich: cars, telephones, computers, flat screen TVs – the first ones cost $25,000 in the ’90s and now they’re $200,” he said.
A number of airlines are looking into supersonic travel between the UK and the US, following on from the Concorde jets that launched in 1976.
The passengers will be offered fine dining on-board. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
Up to 18 passengers will be able to fly at one time. Picture: Spike AerospaceSource:Supplied
Travelling at 2180km/h or Mach 2.04 – twice the speed of sound – it captivated the world’s imagination as it whisked elite passengers from London to New York in just three and a half hours.
The Concorde jets were retired in 2003 after a fatal accident in 2000 in Paris.
Other supersonic jets are competing to offer quick trans-Atlantic flights – a plane dubbed the “Son of Concorde” could one day fly passengers from London to New York in three and a half hours.
Boom Technology’s 2717km/h Overture jet is led by Emerson Collective, an organisation run by Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs.
The company says it has orders from Japan Airlines Co and Virgin Group.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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