Senate ends funding for Boeing's supersonic plane

On March 24, 1971, the U.S. Senate voted 51 to 46 to stop federal funding for Boeing's 2707, a supersonic passenger aircraft. The project, initiated in 1963, had already used nearly a billion dollars and involved two incomplete prototypes.

Program aimed to outpace Concorde and Soviet Tu-144

The 2707 was designed to carry 250 to 300 passengers at nearly Mach 3, significantly more than the Concorde's 100 seats and Mach 2 speed. However, technical issues forced design changes, such as switching from a variable geometry wing to a delta wing.

Legislative pushback and political pressure

The Senate had previously voted against funding in December 1970, and the House of Representatives had cut 134 million dollars in March 1971. Despite President Nixon's personal appeals, 17 Republican senators opposed the project, defying his wishes.

Supporters and opponents highlight key concerns

Supporters argued that abandoning the project would waste 850 million dollars already spent and allow European and Soviet competitors to dominate the market. Opponents, however, focused on the high cost, which would have required 85 percent taxpayer funding, and environmental concerns like noise and the impact of sonic booms.

Final legislative actions end the program

On May 12, 1971, the House voted to restart the project with 85 million dollars, but the Senate refused. The House then accepted the project's end, marking the final conclusion of the 2707 program. The aircraft never flew, and a model is now in the Museum of Flight in Seattle.