[andy_ppp]

As far as I am aware even China hasn't mass produced commercial jet engines yet so the idea that Boom have one that works and can be mass produced seems highly unlikely. We'll see though I would be interested in London to New York in 3.5h, but I'm guessing the flights will be for the richest people only.

[SideburnsOfDoom]

> the idea that Boom have one that works and can be mass produced seems highly unlikely.

Booms claim is they're developing and will some day real soon have "one that works" and then it can be produced at a low-enough cost in sufficient quantity.

Yes, it's dubious.

[zarzavat]

Presumably the richest people also don't want to risk their lives flying on some sketchy aircraft, just to shave a few hours off their journey.

[BobaFloutist]

Rich people seem to spend a lot of times in helicopters and private planes, which is dramatically more dangerous than commercial air travel.

I could off the top of my head name a few rich people that died from it. Hell, the titan submersible, while a very different animal, is a pretty clear indicator that vast wealth doesn't preclude a willingness to risk one's life in highly experimental "travel"

[xhkkffbf]

If I can have a lie flat bed, a decent chair and wifi, I'll take 20 hour flight. Wifi and beds change the equation.

[sandworm101]

And they want comfort. A 5-hour flight sleeping on a flat bed is a thousand times better than an economy seat on a 3-hour flight. Part of concorde's problem was the rising expectations of first class travel in the 90s. It was never going to be compatable with today's huge first class seats.

[scottyah]

Maybe not the richest of people, but there's a significant amount of people who got their wealth due to their love/acceptance of risk. Climbing Everest is not cheap, is still very risky, and I presume it is more expensive than a cross-Atlantic trip on these jets.

[roryirvine]

Sure, but the main risk they'd be accepting here is that of spending an inordinate amount of time hanging around in an airport terminal waiting for a broken engine to be fixed.

It'd be hard to spin that as being anything like as heroic as the risk of being killed or maimed whilst climbing Everest!