Supersonic Airliner Problems

Abstract

AT the time of writing the main topic of discussion in aviation circles is whether or not we in Britain should build a supersonic airliner. The Committee appointed two years ago to look into the matter has produced its report and it is in the hands of the Minister of Supply, but has as yet not been published. It is however widely believed that it recommends the construction of a civil airliner with a cruising speed of something under M=2. If this is the case, the recommendation may be said to be made obsolete before its publication by the opinion clearly held in the U.S.A. that M=3 is a much more worth‐while speed. This view emerged at the I.A.S. Symposium on the subject, and it is obviously the intention of at least one American manufacturer to proceed with such a project. As no British supersonic airliner could be in operation before the American, since American supersonic experience is much greater, there seems little point in going ahead with the M=2 aircraft. This leaves open the question of whether we should try and compete with America (and presumably also Russia) in the M=3 range. There is no doubt that such an aircraft is technically possible, and it is equally certain that its development cost would be very large. The extent to which it would offer operating economies over other civil aircraft is still very much a matter of opinion, and in any case it is unlikely that the market for an aircraft with such immense work capacity will be large enough for the development cost to be covered by sales of aircraft. Even if an airline can so arrange things that an aircraft can make several transatlantic flights in each 24‐hour day, it is not likely to be able to pay a price which will enable a manufacturer to cover development costs. Development will inevitably be a state responsibility, whether begun ostensibly for military applications or with only the transport in view. The present rather doubtful economics of the supersonic airliner, taken with the undoubted American lead, make the idea of Britain joining in such a race most unattractive on any pragmatic assessment.

Citation

(1959), "Supersonic Airliner Problems", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 93-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb033100