It is almost five years since the Concorde retired, but little has been achieved in terms of replacing the world’s most iconic commercial aircraft. In 1994 the aim of the European Supersonic Research Project (ESRP) was a second-generation supersonic transport (SST) by 2010 (Mach 2, 250-seat, 5,500-nm range), but in the end, no program was launched and as the Concorde struggled to recover from the 2003 accident in Paris, the days of supersonic day trips from London to New York were numbered.
With environmental issues now at the forefront, few have dared to speak of “Son of Concorde” despite many expressions of dismay at progress seemingly going into reverse. Then there is the U.S. ban on supersonic flight over land, forming a formidable barrier even though International Civil Aviation Organization rules technically allow supersonic flight if there is no boom.
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