Boeing's potential new Sonic Cruiser airplane will be a major step forward in aviation, offering a combination of high technology, environmental responsibility, time savings and extraordinary comfort, the US aircraft maker says.
John Roundhill, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' vice president of marketing for the new aeroplane programme, said at the Dubai 2001 air show the Sonic Cruiser offers advantages to the passenger, the airline operator and the environment. The Sonic Cruiser will fly at speeds of up to Mach .98 (approximately 98 per cent of the speed of sound) or about 15 to 20 per cent faster than current commercial jet airplanes. Higher cruising altitudes Ñ in the mid-40,000-foot range - will offer a smoother, more comfortable ride, he said.