SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the that-is-a-long-time-in-a-winged-cigar dept.
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
On Friday, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce issued a public "challenge" to the companies to extend the range of Boeing's new 777X, which is slated for 2020, and the planned "Ultra-Long Range" version of Airbus's A350, which rolls out next year. Qantas hopes to take delivery of such a plane and begin its Sydney to London service in 2022, the company said as part of its full-year income results.
Qantas noted that both planes "can get close" to the requirements needed for London and New York missions. The public prodding is designed to make one or both manufacturers revisit technical schemes to edge out even greater range.
A nonstop flight from Sydney to London would shave almost four hours off current travel times that involve a stopover; for New York, travelers could save nearly three hours. Airbus, in an emailed statement, said it was equal to the challenge.
[...] Qantas flew its first so-called "Kangaroo Route" from Sydney to London in December 1947, flying a Lockheed Constellation. The trip took four days. In a few years, the kangaroo-flagged carrier hopes to do it in just over 20 hours.
-- submitted from IRC
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday August 28 2017, @01:53AM (9 children)
More to the point, it's so impatient privileged people can shave precious seconds off of their airtime as well as avoid contact with other filthy humans on the ground.
There are some reasons for it besides luxury. National Security, or C-level exexs who need to be somewhere else to fix a major fucking problem and fast. But if anything I see this as a symptom of a problem -- much like recreational space trips -- too much wealth concentrated in the hands of an increasing few.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 28 2017, @02:01AM (1 child)
With Quantas travel prices, you almost hit home even for economy class.
The company can stay in business only with low fuel prices.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Monday August 28 2017, @10:19AM
ITYM "With Quantas travel prices, you almost have to sell your home even for economy class". I was stunned at what they charge for something as basic as a round trip to LA.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 28 2017, @03:36AM (4 children)
Dude, you're starting to sound like some kind of fuckin' commie. Please, just stick to your regular race baiting we've come to know and love, and leave the politics to professional idiots.
As for the longest flight, there used to be (and soon to be resumed) nonstop flights from Singapore to New York, 21 hours in an A340. Fucking ridiculous that we still don't have supersonic transport. We are so goddamn primitive... This is what you get for electing psychopathic chimpanzees...
(Score: -1, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday August 28 2017, @03:39AM (2 children)
Suck my dick, nigger boy. I sound how I want to, and if you don't like it, too fucking bad. I'm not about to adapt my style to conform to your standards nor those of other fucking conformists.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 28 2017, @04:29AM (1 child)
:-) There ya go... That's what I like to hear. The real you... Good to see you haven't completely lost it. But watch yourself next time. Politics just ain't your forte.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday August 28 2017, @05:23AM
You might have struck a nerve...or a cilia, considering this IS ol' "single-helix" Eth we're talking about here :D
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday August 28 2017, @07:37PM
> nonstop flights from Singapore to New York, 21 hours in an A340. Fucking ridiculous that we still don't have supersonic transport. We are so goddamn primitive...
Oblig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHaVqQfMkxY [youtube.com]
Seriously. You can do NY to Singapore in less than a fucking day, without selling a kidney, with a quasi-certainty of getting there alive, fed, and usually on time.
Sure, I'd rather go supersonic, but I wouldn't call safely circling the planet "primitive"
(Score: 2, Touché) by khallow on Monday August 28 2017, @11:28AM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 28 2017, @12:32PM
Right there in TFS: "would shave almost four hours off current travel times that involve a stopover". Four hours, not precious seconds.
And "C-level exexs (sic) who need to be somewhere else to fix a major fucking problem" is exactly what business jets exist for -- two or three refueling stops are more than made up for by a plane that leaves on your schedule -- no security bullshit, and no waiting for the next scheduled flight.