Concorde, the first supersonic passenger-carrying commercial airplane, was built jointly by aircraft manufacturers in the United Kingdom and France. It was first flown in 1969 and was put into commercial operation in 1976. However, the epochal jetliner did not fit well in the civil aviation industry due to its loud noise, high fares, stringent requirements for airports and environmental impact.
If everything goes according to plan, the prototype for a commercial-use supersonic airliner named Dasheng — or Monkey King, a legendary hero in Chinese mythology — is expected to conduct its maiden flight in 2030. If that becomes reality, Dasheng will revolutionize the global air transportation sector, he added.
“Just imagine making an intercontinental flight within just two to three hours that you would now spend 10 hours or longer on,” Deng said.
Internationally, enterprises in the United States and Europe have been racing to design and construct a new generation of supersonic airliners to meet the potential demand of fast intercontinental travel.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 