11-30-2007, 04:46 PM
[quote spearmint]Amazing what a leap in technology so long ago and now grounded forever.New faster and better planes? No. Instead we get that horrifying Airbus A380 with 550 seats and potentially 850 which is no faster than the original jet airliners in 1952, the BOAC Dehavilland Comets.
You can add airplanes and air travel to the long list of things you don't understand.
Speed is way down the list of what's important in airliner design. Even back in the 1950s and 1960s, economy of operation was more important. Convair built the fastest airliner ever prior to the Tu-144 (which was faster than Concorde), the 990. It sold poorly because it used so much fuel. The amount of time saved by a slightly faster cruising speed is negligible, like the amount of time you save by driving 75 vs. 70 mph.
Notice that when Boeing proposed a fast airliner, the Sonic Cruiser, the airlines yawned. When Boeing proposed the economical 787 "Dreamliner," they sold hundreds.
You can add airplanes and air travel to the long list of things you don't understand.
Speed is way down the list of what's important in airliner design. Even back in the 1950s and 1960s, economy of operation was more important. Convair built the fastest airliner ever prior to the Tu-144 (which was faster than Concorde), the 990. It sold poorly because it used so much fuel. The amount of time saved by a slightly faster cruising speed is negligible, like the amount of time you save by driving 75 vs. 70 mph.
Notice that when Boeing proposed a fast airliner, the Sonic Cruiser, the airlines yawned. When Boeing proposed the economical 787 "Dreamliner," they sold hundreds.