Gallery: United Airlines goes Boom with supersonic aircraft order
The ‘Overture’ airliner will cut the New York to London flight time to three-and-a-half hours
Supersonic speeds are set to return to commercial aviation by the end of the decade. United Airlines has announced a deal with aerospace company Boom Supersonic which will see the carrier purchase 15 “Overture” aircraft, with the option for an additional 35.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
100% sustainable fuel
The Overture is expected to be the first large commercial aircraft to be net-zero carbon from day one and is optimised to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The roll-out is slated for 2025, fly in 2026 and expected to carry passengers by 2029, United said.
Speeds of Mach 1.7
United is aiming to “revive the Concorde spirit” with its supersonic order, The Guardian reports. The Overture will be capable of flying at speeds of Mach 1.7 (1,300mph) - twice the speed of today’s fastest airliners.
Quick hop over the pond
With its supersonic speeds the transatlantic journey between New York/Newark and London will potentially be cut to three-and-a-half hours. Newark to Frankfurt would take four hours and the flight between San Francisco and Tokyo would be just six hours.
Cruising at 60,000ft
The Overture will have a passenger capacity of between 65 and 88, have a cruising altitude of 60,000ft and a range of 4,250 nautical miles (4,888 miles).
Hi-tech experience
According to Boom Supersonic the Overture onboard experience is designed for “comfort, productivity and privacy”. It will feature in-seat entertainment screens, ample personal space, and contactless technology.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why is Bluey such a cultural phenomenon?
In the Spotlight Kids are obsessed — but parents get just as much out of the show, if not more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is it actually economical to fly basic economy?
The Explainer Airlines have placed so many restrictions on basic economy, you may wonder if it's even worth the savings anymore
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
So bad, so good: the best worst movies
The Week Recommends These films are as enjoyable as they are terrible
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published