Sabato 25 luglio ricorre l'anniversario dello schianto d'un Concorde subito dopo il decollo dal Charles de Gaulle di Parigi. Il tragico evento, costato la vita a 113 persone, accelerò il già programmato ritiro degli apparecchi gemelli superstiti dell'Air France, scomodi divoratori di cherosene (la British Airways, unica altra compagnia a possederne, aveva già provveduto).
Questa ingloriosa fine non ha però frenato i progettisti di supersonici. Lo studio più avanzato è quello dell’Aerion Corporation. Il suo AS2 dovrebbe essere in grado di trasportare 12 passeggeri da Washington alle rive della Senna in tre ore, con primo volo pianificato per il 2019 e omologazione entro il 2021. La velocità di crociera dovrebbe essere di Mach 1,5, ovvero una volta e mezza quella del suono. Prezzo di listino previsto per ogni singolo aviogetto: 120 milioni di dollari.
In gara ci sono però anche la Spike Aerospace (18 posti, Mach 1,6), la HyperMach (Mach 4, due volte la velocità del Concorde, ma con consumi inferiori), nonché la JAXA, l'agenzia spaziale giapponese, e l'Airbus Group, che hanno in vista siluri più capienti.
AFP/dg
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