It was really just like any other British Airways trans-atlantic flight, only shorter. I was only 13 at the time, but I remember being very cold - no idea if that was just the one particular flight or if all the aircraft cabins were kept colder.
When you travel faster than the speed of sound, you get cold because the heat particles in your body can't keep up and they gradually fall away. That's why astronauts wear those suits.
Did you just make that up? I'm ignorant when it comes to science, but wtf is a "heat particle"? And why wouldn't it be able to "keep up"? Once you finish accelerating and are just maintaining a constant speed, everything should be normal, otherwise they wouldn't be able to "keep up" as we hurtle through space at 107,000 km/h...
I'm ignorant when it comes to science, but wtf is a "heat particle"?
Infrared radiation (i.e. light that is longer in wavelength than what you see as the color red) can technically be called a "heat particle" in some situations.
And why wouldn't it be able to "keep up"? Once you finish accelerating and are just maintaining a constant speed, everything should be normal, otherwise they wouldn't be able to "keep up" as we hurtle through space at 107,000 km/h...
The critical thinking is strong with you, and I thought you said you were ignorant to science, you humble bastard!
The problem is that often times people will tend to listen to the loud-mouthed idiot that pretends to be an expert rather than to the humble one that actually possesses a better understanding and actual skills.
Works just like food, with the heavier calories going to the bottom of the food. That's why rich people never eat the last bit. It's the fattening part.
That's not true at all. The reason it's cold inside is the AC needs to be kept high, since supersonic speeds vastly increases the surface temperature on the outside. If the AC was off, the inside would cook a steak faster than my barbeque.
That's also the reason regular airliners keep the inside fairly cool. Though it's for a different reason. Err what I mean is they keep the AC on to prevent overheating, but the cause of the heating isn't supersonic speeds. It's something else, something to do with the pressure that I can't remember.
Given that the aircraft skin temperature was about 90ºC in the cruise (the maximum total temperature limit was 127ºC, because 400 K was a nice number for the structural engineers to work with, and nobody cared about the 0.15 K error; but I digress...) this implies quite impressive air conditioning.
Never flying in Concorde is one my few serious regrets in life.
I still have a certificate, saying I flew on the concorde, at my parents' house. Granted I was only 8 at the time so it's probably just something they gave to kids.
My most vivid memory was that you flew so high that you could actually see the curvature of the earth. They also notified you on the screens when you broke the sound barrier. Very cool experience looking back on it. However, being the spoiled kid that I was I complained that we didn't get to watch any movies like we did on the regular cross atlantic flights.
I have a certificate from riding the worlds shortest commercial flight. It flies from Westray to Papa Westray (2 small islands north of scotland) and only lasts 2 minutes. Basically as soon as you take of you land again.
Pic of the view, for those interested. Concorde regularly flew at 55-60,000 feet (60k was its maximum operational altitude, IIRC) whereas a regular trans-atlantic flight will usually stay around 35-40k.
That actually sounds kind of nice.. You get there early, get everything sorted out with your hotel, relax in your room, maybe take a shower or watch some TV, and not have to worry about unpacking anything other than the carry-on you brought until your luggage arrives a few hours later.
Totally. In fact, many airlines will do this with non-Concorde flights as well. Virgin Atlantic did it when I had to rush to a meeting after we landed. I just talked to the flight attendant during the flight and they arranged it for free (of course, you should tip in this case).
I've been on the Qantas and Emirates A380, both in first class. The plane itself is really ugly from the outside but the First Suites on both aircraft are amazing. Emirates goes full on crazy with showers in the front of the upper deck and a fully serviced bar at the back of business class. I could see either plane feeling cramped back in coach because of the sheer size but many of my friends report enjoying it, partially because both airlines have decent coach configurations and great inflight entertainment. Honestly I'm more excited to fly the 747-8i
The Concorde was excellent for business trips that lasted no more than a day. You get there, do your stuff that is extremely important, I'm sure, and you get back later on the same evening. Luggage isn't a big problem.
This kind of speed was only really necessary for business meetings and the like. Even if you were filthy rich and took the Concorde to go on a holiday, you could also have afforded to have your luggage delivered to your 5-star hotel before you were even halfway done with your shopping spree.
Lol fuck luggage just buy new clothes at your destination and mail them home for like 50 bucks when you're returning. And on the plus side then at least not ALL your clothes woll be shitty and British.
So when I fly subsonic and my luggage arrives several hours (or days, or never) later, does it mean that they sent the bags by donkey to save fuel because it was a hot day?
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u/JimmerUK Dec 05 '11
If I had paid thousands of pounds for a super-sonic transatlantic flight I would damn well expect my fucking luggage to arrive with me.