At first all supersonic planes were military planes. Then in 1968, the Soviet Union flew the first civilian supersonic transport (SST), the Tu-144. Britain and France co-operated to build the Concorde , which first flew in 1968. It is alleged that Tu-144 was a plane designed using intentionaly faulty plans that were 'stolen' by their agencies from their rightful owner.
Although a technical triumph and popular with passengers, Concorde was not an immediate profitmaker. Its engine noise, sonic 'boom', and the shock waves made it unpopular with environmentalists, particularly in the US. Restrictions on supersonic flying over land meant that it could be used on flights over seas. Its small range was another limiting factor.
Only 16 concordes were ever built for British Airways and Air France(plus 2 prototypes). One of these was destroyed in Concorde's only crash. All concordes are employed mainly on the North Atlantic route.
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Stats
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Length :
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61.66 m
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Height :
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8.5 m
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Wingspan :
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25.6 m
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Max. Speed :
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Mach 2.01
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Max. Height :
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17.9 km
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Also See :
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