Why the Antipode is making headlines

YOU MEAN THE NEW SUPERSONIC JET?

It’s just a design still. Hold your horses.

BUT IT IS FROM BOMBARDIER, RIGHT?

Charles Bombardier, the designer. He is from the Bombardier family alright.

NOT THE SAME THING?

Not quite. He launches these sci-fi type concepts to get more ideas on board. Charles Bombardier had unveiled another supersonic design called Skreemr in October 2015.

THAT’S TWO WITHIN SIX MONTHS. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Speed, mainly. The Skeemr was designed for Mach 10. Antipode can reach Mach 24.

WOOSH! MACH 1 IS THE SPEED OF SOUND, RIGHT?

Yes, 1,195 km per hour. The Concorde could do Mach 2, but was grounded in 2003.

AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SPEED?

In a hurry, are we, little Einstein? Okay here we go. The Antipode will have rockets to launch it high into the atmosphere. Scramjet engines that use atmospheric oxygen take over from there. In an emergency the cabin can detach from the engine.

OH. SURELY THERE’S A CATCH SOMEWHERE.

Not just one, many. No one has built a scramjet engine yet. Also, the outer body will need heat and pressure resistant material. Bombardier isn’t sure what to use. Even if alive, the passengers may still have a horrific ordeal inside.

SO WHAT GOT YOU SO EXCITED?

For one, you can reach London from New York in 11 minutes. Or across the globe — as the name Antipode suggests — to Dubai in 22.

AND?

There’s something Indian in the mix. Mumbai-based transportation design firm Lunatic Koncepts partnered with Bombardier in designing the Antipode.

WOW! SUDDENLY THAT NAME DOESN'T SEEM SO, WELL, INSANE...

You bet.