Over a century since the
Will we soon fly on supersonic jets, electric planes, or drones?
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Supersonic flights are coming back
It might seem strange to predict something that happened over 50 years ago, but since the Concorde retired in 2003, people have been eager to see supersonic flight make a comeback. The Concorde flew at an impressive Mach 2.04, or 1,354 miles per hour – over twice the speed of sound – making the trip from New York to Paris in just 3 hours. However, this groundbreaking plane, introduced in 1976, only operated through Air France and British Airways and wasn't financially viable, leading to its retirement more than 20 years ago.
Many believe supersonic flight could return, including the team at NASA, who have developed the X-59 jet, which comes with a cool name and lots of possibilities. In 2021, United Airlines made waves by ordering 15 Boom Overture jets, another supersonic aircraft currently being developed. American Airlines is in, too, although the aircraft hasn't flown yet – Boom expects it'll take to the skies by the decade's end if everything goes smoothly.
More flight paths, extended journeys
The longest flight in the world in 2025 will be from New York City to Singapore, lasting 18 hours and 50 minutes. Singapore Airlines runs this route, covering 9,585 miles, and offers only business class and premium economy seats. With new routes being added all the time – in 2025, the United States will have its first non-stop flights to Greenland and Marrakech, Morocco – that record might soon be challenged.
And we may not have to wait long: in 2026, Qantas, the Australian airline, plans to launch its "Project Sunrise" service, connecting Sydney to both London and New York. Each flight will go over 20 hours using specially designed Airbus A350-1000 planes.
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Drones for passengers
If you've got $40,000 and a sense of adventure, you can buy a single-passenger drone. (But whether you should is another question.) It's likely that more dependable options will come out soon, especially from Chinese company EHang. They successfully tested their self-flying electric passenger drone in early 2024 and seem to be moving forward fast with the project.
This aircraft can carry 1 or 2 people, depending on the model, and its range and maximum speed are currently just 22 miles and 81 miles per hour, respectively. However, for those who are hopeful, it's worth noting that these helicopter-like vehicles are basically flying cars (finally!).
Planes powered by electricity for commuting
As electric cars become more popular, a question pops up in the aviation world: why not electric planes? United Airlines aims to have them by the decade's end as part of its goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
They've put in the first order with Swedish company Heart Aerospace, which has been developing these innovative planes since 2021. They're starting with the ES-30, a 30-passenger aircraft that can fly 124 miles on electric power. It also has a hybrid engine that runs on sustainable fuel, extending the range to 248 miles. Icelandair, Air Canada, and Mesa Air Group have also ordered from Heart Aerospace, hoping these new electric planes will be a greener choice for short flights.
Wings that change shape
Unlike birds, planes can't flap their wings. They stay in one spot and can't move, but some engineers believe this shouldn't be the case. The idea of creating bird-like wings that change shape has been around for a while, but it's tough to pull off – yet we should keep trying.
MIT and NASA researchers are designing wings that could work better than regular ones and adapt to changing conditions. Don't hold your breath for your short flight to have morphing wings soon, as the whole process has taken a really long time and is complicated, but don't lose hope, either.
