Are supersonic business jets coming back?

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It’s not as though traveling in supersonic speeds is a new technology; it has been around for years, epitomized by the once-success of the now-retired Concorde jets. There’s even “Flight of the Conchords,” an HBO series that pays a pun-based homage to the demise of the famed business jet.


The main turbulence the Concorde eventually had to face is its lack of commercial viability. Now, however, certain leaders and forerunners in the aviation industry are keen on bringing back the technology and improving vastly on it. For example, the company Boom claims that it can reduce the price of supersonic flights by up to 75 percent. This effectively means flight costs will be no different from a business-class flight on a 55-seater plane.

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Then there’s the Aerion S2 jet, a project being developed collaboratively by top aviation companies and backed by billionaire Robert Bass, who is valued by Forbes at $4.9 billion. The Aerion is, indeed, promising; it is a modification of the Boeing 737 GE engine core which can reach Mach 1.4 when in flight. It’s a huge leap from the current standard of Mach 0.9.


Most analysts and experts in the industry believe that what’s impeding the technology from being viable for commercial use is the general lack of suitable engines for sound fuel economy. Also, most high-end jet engine varieties are still limited to NASA and military fighter jet use.


Yet while the fuel consumption and its corresponding cost is a real issue, more and more companies worldwide are buying into the resurrection of the supersonic jet, believing that the demand exists. After all, we all want faster flights.


Aviation and aerospace professional Scott Beale is skilled in commercial sales and aviation products marketing, government contracting, and business startups. Check out this linkfor more aviation-related posts.

How to best prepare for your first travel abroad

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If you are among those who’ve just secured their passport and visa and now anxious about their first trip overseas, hereunder are some tips on how to be best prepared for your first adventure abroad. Remember that a little planning goes a long way to ensure that your trip goes hitch-free and truly become memorable for all the right reasons.


Firstly, don’t bring too much with you. Pack light and settle for a manageable suitcase. Decide carefully based on the weather in the destination country, and if you indeed need spares of certain pieces of clothing. Of course, this largely depends on how long you’d be staying there. The casual tourist visiting for a few days should not be lugging around heavy suitcases. Moreover, leave enough room in your baggage for souvenirs that you’d bring home.


Don’t forget to inform your bank that you are going abroad. Let your credit card firms know where exactly you’re going and when. This is to ensure that they will not flag it down for what they may deem as suspicious use or even suspected fraud in foreign soil.

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It goes without saying that you shouldn’t forget your medications if you have allergies or are under maintenance medicine. For prescription medication, keep them in their original containers to assure airport security that they are what they are. Pack over-the-counter medicine together and bring antacids and anti-diarrhea tablets to better let your stomach adjust to a foreign country’s food or diet. Also, don’t forget ibuprofen and anti-dizziness pills.


Carry just enough reading materials to keep you entertained. One book should suffice, as there will be other sources of entertainment in-flight. Bring a certified true copy of your passport with you and place it in your suitcase, just in case the original gets stolen. Finally, make sure to give your family or friends a copy of your travel itinerary.


Scott Beale is an aviation and aerospace professional who has led various aviation firms to attain growth in revenues with his competencies in strategic and tactical planning, account development and acquisition, government contract and management, sales team training and supervision, and financial reporting. For more aviation and travel-related reads, click here.