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15 June, 2005, Paris: Concorde is back from the grave! The iconic supersonic Concorde, which cruised faster than sound, finally has a rebirth. The Concorde was grounded in 2003 after a crash in Paris, even as it was saddled by extremely high fuel costs and declining passenger numbers.
And what better place to finalise this than at the Paris Air Show, which is currently under way in France.
During its glory days, the 100-seat Concorde, which flew at a speed of of 1,350 miles an hour, could reach New York from London within three hours, compared with eight hours on other planes.
The new supersonic plane on the drawing board (well, it may not be called the Concorde) is expected to cut flight time between Tokyo and New York to six and half hours, as against with 13 hours on other aircraft.
According to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japanese and French companies will study means to reduce engine noise and reduce the weight of aircraft flying faster than sound.
Japan's government has been funding research into supersonic flight, granting 110 million yen every year since 2002 for the studies.
The Japanese and French companies signed an agreement at the Paris Air Show yesterday to conduct a three-year study, according to the ministry statement.
In a statement in Tokyo, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co.'s spokesman Keiichi Sakamoto said Japan's biggest maker of aircraft jets may "become involved in engine research."
It was France, home of Paris Air Show, which took the initiative in 1956 to develop the Concorde. In today's dollar terms, the amount spent in developing the supersonic plane adds up to $30 billion. Now, France wants to revive the concept.
Ishikawajima-Harima, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. already make wings, fuselage and parts for Boeing Co.'s 787, designed to burn 20 percent less fuel than other aircraft.
According to Shoichi Nakagawa, Japan's trade minister, "Bringing their respective advantages together should lead to the ability to offer highly advanced aircraft and services in the future."
According to the International Air Transport Association, global airlines may report a combined loss of $6 billion in 2005, adding to the $36 billion loss in the industry between 2001 and 2004.
Jet fuel constitutes the biggest expense in flying a plane. The fuel prices surged by 58% last year, reducing
profit margins for many Indian and international airlines.
The Japanese and French companies studying the new supersonic aircraft are yet to provide the details of its fuel need. The Concorde, carrying one quarter the passengers of a Boeing 747, the largest commercial aircraft in service, burned twice the amount of fuel.
Despite its legendary looks and aura, the Concorde was commercially unviable. It drank fuel, sucked up maintenance bills and became commercially unviable. The prohibitively expensive flight tickets were another deterrent. The last flight was flown by British Airways. By then, the Concorde had drained the company of its resources.
But the supersonic dream did not die. off and on, several aircraft manufacturers have discussed making a supersonic plane, though nothing could be finalised. The maintenance costs deterred many from proceeding with their plans. However, the Japs and French may make the dream come true. The supersonic may fly again!
Await the roll of thunder in the skies!
BY JM
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