Japan and France have agreed to develop the technology for a new supersonic commercial aircraft that could cut the flying time between Tokyo and New York by almost half to six hours, Japanese media reported on Wednesday.
Under a deal signed at the Paris air show on Tuesday, the two countries will try to revive the fortunes of supersonic travel less than two years after Britain and France retired their Concorde service.
Japan’s trade and industry ministry said the countries would each invest about 100m yen ($913 000) a year over three years on research for the plane, which will seat 300 people — three times the capacity of Concorde.
French aerospace officials were reportedly impressed by Japan’s successful test in 2003 of an engine that could propel an aircraft to more than five times the speed of sound. Concorde flew at twice the speed of sound.
The Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies and France’s Aerospace Industries Association will work together to try to solve the problems that dogged Concorde, such as high fuel consumption and engine noise.
”This is truly significant industrial cooperation,” Japan’s trade minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, said. ”Bringing [France and Japan’s] respective advantages together should lead to the ability to offer highly advanced aircraft and services in the future.”
The agreement is the first serious attempt to reintroduce supersonic air travel, which appeared to have run its course when Britain and France decided to scrap their 18 Concordes after 27 years.
Though wealthy jetsetters considered Concorde the only way to fly between Europe and the East Coast of the US, the famously uneconomical service was criticised for the poor return it gave on billions of pounds of tax-funded investment. The decision to end the transatlantic service came after a Concorde crashed outside Paris in 2000, the only fatal accident involving the aircraft.
”Building a supersonic aircraft in a real partnership is the only possibility the Japanese aeronautical industry has of getting to the front of the world aviation scene,” said Michel Théoval of the Aerospace Industries Association. ”Europe has the experience that could make a difference.” – Guardian Unlimited Â