Would You Fly?

No...not in that big of a hurry to get anywhere....

The speed wouldn't stop me, but the ticket price might.

What time does the flight leave sir? Ticket agent: at 09:00 sharp sir!

When does it arrive in New York? Ticket agent: at 06:00 sharp sir! Would you like a ticket?

Customer: No thank you, I just want to be here watching when it takes off!

It's not the flight that worries me, it's the takeoff and landing!

Of course, if something goes wrong in the flight, than a bad landing looks likely.

"Cruise at Mach 2.2 (1,675 mph)" - oops, the usual misinformation by "tech writers." More like 1,452 mph at 60,000 ft.

I don't think they would need to worry to much about "a sudden loss of cabin pressure". If a window were to break, there wouldn't be time to reach for your respirator.

Brings back sad memories for me:

"On October 25, 1999, a month after the American team rallied to win the Ryder Cup and four months after his U.S. Open victory, Stewart was killed in the depressurization of a Learjet"

"National Transportation Safety Board investigators later concluded that the plane suffered a loss of cabin pressure and that all on board died of hypoxia as the plane passed to the west of Gainesville, Florida. A delay of only a few seconds in donning oxygen masks, coupled with cognitive and motor skill impairment, could have been enough to result in the pilots' incapacitation."

Payne Stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

<S> to Payne Stewart!

If the ticket was free heck yea I'd fly in it!

Heck if its free sign me up for a trip to the ISS, Moon and Mars while you're on the paperwork.

It's cool, but I've been hearing about Ramjet technology for years and now anything less than Mach 3 for $5000 sounds like a rip off.

https://www.inverse.com/article/12432-50-years-ago-the-lockheed-d-21-drone-made-supersonic-history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_D-21

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramjet

One of the most beautiful and startling photos I ever saw was in "Wings" or "Airpower" magazine (sadly both defunct) - a 2-page spread consisting of an SR-71 with a D-21 mounted on top, flying over snow covered Rockies in Nevada. A beautiful juxtaposition of man's genius set against nature's backdrop. Looked at Google Images, but not there.

Both were outstanding magazines. Sadly, they are long gone.

I believe that I do remember that issue with it's fantastic photo spread of the SR-71 and D-21 drone!!!

It's a photo that is indelibly imprinted in my mind. Cheers!

P.S. Can you identify the aircraft I have as my moniker?

Frankly, the photo is so small I have a difficult time discerning its details, although it does look to be a British design. Right now, I just cannot place it.

So, what is it?

It's the one and only, splendid Vickers Valiant Mk 2, looking gorgeous in black. The original Mk 1 Valiant was the first and less advanced of the 3 "V-Bombers" in service. It suffered metal fatigue in the wings and was withdrawn early from service. The Mk 2 was longer, heavier, considerably beefed up and had the undercarriage in pods trailing the wings. With only 4 X 10,500 lb. thrust it achieved 552 mph at sea level (Vickers claim they had it up to 650 mph), but was destined to have the new R.R. Conway by-pass jet, which eventually achieved 20,500 lb. thrust, as used in the Handley Page Victor. One can only guess what a Valiant Mk 2 would have achieved, so powered. Instead, the Avro Vulcan landed up with the low level role - which it was not designed to do.

Nicely summed up by Bill Gunston here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCbzOQwJfd4

One of those "might have beens."

Nice looking low-level bomber. I like the concept. Glad they were never used in anger.

A very interesting aircraft, especially for the period. I knew nothing about this aircraft.

Thanks for the info!!!

So, lyn, what's the CARBON FOOTPRINT of that go-fast passenger plane? I'll bet you know......

Are we saying we have found BIGFOOT?

It has not been built, yet.

I'm not sure if this is what the business world wants . But just imagine a VTOL business jet . A conventual business jet that could fly at speeds like a Learjet but also capable of landing and taking off from a helipad . Instead of the jet having to land miles away from its destination , a direct flight to its actual destination , would cut enormous ground travel time .