But Virgin hasn't tackled supersonic transport which was the defining feature of the Concorde. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is leading the next generation of supersonic transport and successfully tested a prototype in October 2005. They are trying to improve on the Concorde's failings: fuel consumption and noise. By tweaking the aircraft's shape, improving the jet engines and using composite materials, they hope to achieve this. JAXA claims that its planes will be able to fly twice as far as the Concorde, will produce only one quarter of the nitrogen oxide emissions and will be no noisier than today's jumbo jets.

Perhaps both planes will influence future air travel? The GlobalFlyer requires some modifications, as illustrated by some of the problems Steve faced during his recent flight. The last 24 hours of his journey were worrying as he feared he wouldn't have enough fuel to complete his flight because of weaker jet stream air currents than expected across America and the Atlantic. Near the end of his journey, low in fuel, the plane had serious electrical problems that forced him to land short of his destination. He had to land the plane practically blind due to ice covering the cockpit windows and the tires burst as they hit the runway.

It was a dramatic descent, but probably won't stop Steve from future adventures judging from the 109 world records he has set in the past. Luckily it wasn't me in the plane: I am already scared of flying and would probably never set foot in an aircraft again.

For more info:

Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer
http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/

Global Flyer
http://www.scaled.com/projects/globalflyer.html