Russia will return to supersonic flights, but only passengers willing to pay for speed and comfort will be able to use them. The new Russian airliner is not being created for mass air travel, but for business aviation. This was stated by aviation expert and editor-in-chief of the Avia.ru portal, Roman Gusarov.
According to the expert, the development is currently at the stage of scientific study. Engineers are determining the main parameters of the future aircraft: flight range, layout, engine type, and aerodynamic scheme. It is assumed that the airliner will be compact and capable of carrying about 20–30 passengers.
One of the project's features will be its unusual design. The aircraft will have a long, pointed nose without a traditional windshield. Instead, pilots will use cameras and digital vision systems. The engines are planned to be placed in the upper part of the fuselage closer to the tail. This solution should reduce noise levels and improve aerodynamics.
Currently, we are talking about a small aircraft. The only niche that will make such a project economically viable is a small but fast airliner for a wealthy person who values their time. They are interested in spending 4 hours in the air instead of nine.
Gusarov noted that the developers are taking into account the experience of the Tu-144 and Concorde, whose operation proved too expensive. In addition, large supersonic airliners created a powerful sonic boom when flying over land. Therefore, the new Russian aircraft is being made significantly smaller and more economical.
The expert believes that the creation of such an aircraft will require a serious upgrade of the entire aviation industry. This includes not only the airliner itself, but also new engines, materials, digital systems, and specialist training. According to his assessment, it may take about ten years before a production version appears.