Was it the
Americans that threw a fit when the Condorde went down? It seemed to me that just about everybody in aviation, with the exception of the folks at Air France, got a little steamed by the catastrophic failures, given its suspected origin...
I still don't trust that they'll be able to compensate for those design vulnerabilities by April--let alone have it thoroughly tested and ready for the flightline.
People have let their sentimental attachment to the "first supersonic airliner" get the better of them. The P.R. circus pressure is pushing engineers to make alterations to an airframe that is especially sensitive to changes, owing to tremendous flex in topspeed flight, and it'll be a miracle if it doesn't backfire on them.
But hey, what the public clamours for--they'll get--whether it's good for them or not.
[This message has been edited by Leanan Sidhe (edited 14 February 2001).]