Online Public Relations Thoughts

United Airlines will buy 15 supersonic passenger aircraft from a company that hasn't built even one yet.  That's betting on a dream.  The company, Boom Supersonic, wants to fly passengers by 2029, but that assumes it can get certified by the Federal Aviation Commission by then. A big if.  UA has gained a temporary marketing coup by announcing the buy but it won't last long if Boom Supersonic falls behind its delivery schedule, which it almost certainly will do.  Call UA's move a publicity success but not a PR one -- not yet.  The aircraft has to fly safely before anyone can claim anything other than pursuit of a figment of the imagination.