Concorde's last flight

[VJ]

The Russian Tupolev 144 (supersonic airliner) is perhaps an alternative. Amazing to think that it flew before Concorde...

http://francis.deshayes.free.fr/concorde/tu144.htm

According to this:

http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/travel/DailyNews/tu244000713.html

work is still ongoing to make a successor by 2010...


Jörg

[Brian Ellis]

Jörg

Would you fly in one?

[Technoid]

Originally posted by Brian Ellis
Jörg

Would you fly in one?

Knowing how rugged and reliable Soviet planes used to be, YES!

The rusian concord plane that crashed at the french airshow was "forced" down by a Mirage

[Jon P. Inghram]

Originally posted by VJ

Anyone knew that at Mach 2 the plane is 15 cm longer than on the ground ?

That's an urban legend, the time dilation effect from it traveling at mach 2 actually makes it several cm shorter.

[VJ]

Brian: Sure, why not...

Jon: Really ? Strange how many "reliable" sources still mention this...

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/antenna/concorde/122.asp

(now where is that murcer that checks out urban legends ? )


Jörg

[Brian Ellis]

Originally posted by Jon P. Inghram
That's an urban legend, the time dilation effect from it traveling at mach 2 actually makes it several cm shorter.

Sorry, Jon. If that were so, they would have been able to use far less titanium and more aluminium in the construction. I believe the skin temperature of the parts subject to the most air friction reaches >200°C at full gallop. Aluminium alloys are subject to phase changes, weakening them, at this temperature. Titanium is stable to a much higher temperature, but it still has a temperature coefficient of linear expansion.

[ZokesPro]

I always wanted to fly in one of those, now I guess I can't.

[Jon P. Inghram]

It was a JOKE, which should have been pretty obvious with the "time dilation" thing.

To squash a real aeronautical myth: You know the one about the SR-71's (rest in peace ) wings which were supposed to leak until they expand from the heat from supersonic flight? The truth is they're not supposed to leak fuel, the sealant they used in the wings burned off after a number of flights, but since it was difficult to clean out and reapply they just put up with the leaks.

[Chrono_Wanderer]

man, this is sad news. guess they were great in their service though.

[Marshmallowman]

From what I heard the general airline downturn after 9/11 was one of the nails in concorde's coffin.

[bsdgeek]

Doesn't look like there will be any museum for Concorde, they're selling off the pieces.

[gangster]

Originally posted by bsdgeek
Doesn't look like there will be any museum for Concorde, they're selling off the pieces.

Somebody will get one here and there.