I love technology and believe it or not, I am not a millennial. Yes, in the world there are actually people besides millennials that appreciate technology. I want everything faster, better, bigger and I want it to all to go mainstream quickly so that I can afford it as soon as possible.
I am the guy that can't wait for virtual reality full-body suits, the Internet of things to become widely used, and for space tourism to have the safety track record of the airline industry. Which is where this all starts.
This week, Spike Aerospace announced plans for its Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet and its ability to fly at Mach 1.6 and get from New York to London in just three hours. This "Son of Concorde" is expected to be delivered by 2018 and comes in at a measly cost of $60 million. Pennies, I say! Because now is the time for supersonic air travel and here is why:
It Will Make Life Easier
This is the most obvious reason as being able to get overseas in just three hours, as it would allow someone to not lose a whole day of travel or more getting to their destination. You could actually afford the extra price for the Mach flight because you could save two vacation days, plus you aren't going to be spending for meals and amenities while you travel for 24 hours. Coach seats don't sound as bad when you are only going to be in them for three hours instead of six.
It Will Save Lives
Imagine being able to call on one of the greatest heart surgeons in the world, and for them to have the ability to step on a plane from Germany and be operating on you less than five hours later. How many lives can we save by supersonic transport of organs and/or personnel?
For The Sport Of It
In the world of big business, there are few bigger than the NFL. With supersonic air travel, we can legitimately grow the sport worldwide with fewer problems. World Cup Soccer could be shared between countries or around larger countries with less worry about travel itineraries keeping teams from putting out their best effort. Major League Baseball would love to bring in the Asian countries. Their revenue could triple if they just brought in China alone.
It Paves The Way Forward
If we are going to go to space on a regular, run-of-the-mill travel basis, there has to be a proven track record of safety at higher speeds. Right now, Space X is still having trouble keeping their rockets from failing. When the Concorde flew, despite having one crash, its safety record was unmatched.
Resuming supersonic air travel helps get us one step closer to a more widely accepted supersonic transportation industry. With more people willing to develop supersonic aircraft, the market becomes easier to open to spacecraft production as well.
Because We're Human
The human race intrinsically needs to explore, to grow. We need to push the envelope, to travel farther and faster and do it better than everyone else. Supersonic air travel is where we can quench that search for adventure and advancement and exploration.
Not to mention the fact that we need immediate gratification. We are impatient and we just hate flying to begin with. We don't want to wait in security (hence TSA Precheck and Global Entry). We don't want to wait to board the plane (hence Priority Boarding) and we sure as heck want to be as close to the exit door as possible. If there is a way to get us off of the plane faster when we travel, we are going to take it. This means that no matter what it costs for a ticket on a supersonic aircraft, we are going to pay for it. Because just like the great Freddie Mercury and Queen sang, "I want it all, and I want it now."
So bring it on! Supersonic aircraft is another way that technology is helping get us what we want and as soon as possible. Now if we can only get teleporters, food replicators, and holodecks, my life will be complete.
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