Supersonic passenger jets

For 27 years Concorde epitomised jet-setting glamour. Yet its elegant delta wings came with the ear-splitting noise of thirsty military-derived engines; champagne was served in a cramped cabin with small seats; and cruising at twice the speed of sound, which just about halved the time for an Atlantic crossing, cost twice the regular business-class fare. Devotees shed a tear after its farewell flight in 2003, following a fatal crash in 2000 and the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. Most business travellers shrugged.

Key Points

1.supersonic passenger jet 超音速客機(jī)

2.glamour 魅力

glamourous 迷人的, 富有魅力的

3.at twice the speed of sound 聲速的兩倍

at the speed of 以……的速度

4.business-class fare 商務(wù)艙票價(jià)

頭等艙：First Class

商務(wù)艙：Executive Class、Business Class

經(jīng)濟(jì)艙：Economy Class

5.shed a tear 熱淚盈眶