2007yellow430
Active Member
Best you are going to get is Mach .925. Once you get closer to the speed of sound, the more resistance you get. Supersonic burns gas big time. You also have to go high. All of which burns fuel. Cost will keep the speed down, unless you have lots of money.I know the speed from current Airliner are determined much on economics of fuel consumption, then the need to reach destination faster.
However, compared to Convair 880 and 990 in the 50's and 60's..which were conventional designs and non supersonics..current Airliner cruising speed are still 10% slower than those two. Granted those Convair jets were relatively thirsty even compared to their rivals 707 and DC8..still 50 years onward..the current state of the art engine can't produce cruising speed that are comparable.
The longest route by SQ using A-350 from Sing to NY take close to 20 hours..if there's Airliner that can fly economically (on current standard) with those Convair cruising speed, my own rough calculation shown it can get with close to 18 hours..
I know it all back to the economics of fuel consumption..still..50 years on ward and the average speed of present Airliner is getting slower instead faster.
Can a blended body-wing design with current engine provide faster cruising speed ?
Art