Second supersonic generation on the agenda

PARIS: Concorde is the only civil supersonic aircraft to be in use at the moment. At a time when it is supposed to be withdrawn from circulation, the French and British Supersonic is getting ready to keep on flying for twelve more years, until 2005, when its successor will be able to take over.

Fifteen years is the maximum length of time which had been authorized for the Concorde to remain in use. As this time limit is reaching its date of expiration, a strict respect of regulations would mean that the fourteen aircraft belonging to British Airways and Air France ( the only two companies to use the supersonic) would be banned from flying.

Today, it would appear that too much prudence was shown in granting this aircraft such a limited lifespan. According to certain technicians at British Aerospace and at Aerospatiale, the two companies making Concordes, the supersonic seems to be "in excellent shape."

In spite of the great effort (torsion, load on the wings, extension and contraction of the alloy used for the fuselage) which is imposed on the aircraft by the constraints of aerodynamics and the extreme variations in temperature (from 10 degree C to 125 degree C) when the plane flies at Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound), the structure seems to be weathering remarkably well.

As tests carried out about twenty years ago predicted , it resists corrosion far better than traditional subsonic aircraft. Unlike the latter, which often fly for hours on end in the clouds, the Concorde remains dry during most of its flights.

Rejuvenation

In view of its present healthy condition, it would appear to be too early yet to withdraw it from circulation. "After a few modification, it should still be able to fly for a dozen years or so," its builders maintain. But it will only be possible to extend the length use of the supersonic on condition that all safety standards are respected. Hence, these modifications first of all aim to improve its technical reliability. The installation of a system for permanently watching over the engines and the addition of a control system for the air-intake should make it possible to reduce risks of breakdowns and to replace faulty elements in time.

The lifespan of the structure will be extended by reinforcing the upper part of the fuselage. In order to meet the new safety standards which will shortly come into effect on American Territory, the Concorde will be equipped with a system to prevent any risk of collision in flight. this is the TACS.

Other improvements (an increase in the area of the elevons and the flow of air in the jets) will make it possible to make a kerosene out of the 80 tons needed to cross the Atlantic. the quality of service on board and the comfort of the passengers will not be neglected. Air France and British Airways are considering total renovation of the passenger cabin on their aircraft.

Initially, Concorde was to be replaced, a few years after coming into service, by a super-Concorde, but, at that time, the difficult economic situation (caused by the first oil shock) and the polemic concerning any possible deterioration in the ozone layer by supersonic aircraft prevented the materialization of the project.

Today, there is a real renewal of interesting in this means of transport by airline companies and the creation of a second generation supersonic aircraft is once again on the agenda. Feasibility studies on such a project are rather optimistic.

From an economic point of view, there is a market for this kind of aircraft. Air traffic has gone on increasing over the last fifteen years. Long-distance traffic, in particular, keeps on growing and is expected to increase fivefold by the year 2005.

-- AFI