All the while enduring the noise and vibration of piston engines and that occasional white-knuckle

而且還得忍受活塞發動機的噪音、震動，還有因為要飛越北大西洋

ride through a North Atlantic storm.

上空的風暴而擔驚受怕

And then…

之後...

Along came jetliners.

噴射客機來了（波音707）

They flew above the weather, and a flight from London to New York was cut

噴射機可以在雲層上空不受天氣影響的飛行，而且兩地飛行時間也

to just seven hours.

縮短到7小時了

The Jet Age revolutionized air travel.

噴射機時代改變了航空運輸業的形態

But an even bigger leap forward was just around the corner.

但是另一個更大的躍進就近在眼前

In the upcoming supersonic age, airliners would travel twice the speed of sound, and

在即將來臨的超音速年代，客機可以以音速兩倍（M 2.0，2馬赫）的速度飛行

fly right at the edge of space.

而且還可以在太空的邊緣飛行

Cutting a trip from London to New York down to just three and half hours.

把兩地的飛行時間更進一步縮到三個半小時

It was supposed to be the next giant leap forward.

它理應是下一個大躍進

But instead, going supersonic would end up as one of biggest missteps

不過事實證明，超音速反倒是航空業史上

in commercial history.

走錯的其中一大步

In 1947, a rocket-powered plane breaks through the sound barrier.

你搭不起的飛機-協和號的故事

The first time in history an aircraft is recorded flying faster than the speed of sound.

1947年，一架火箭動力的飛機突破了音障（貝爾 X-1）

The monumental achievement tputs to rest doubts about whether man or machine could even withstand

也是紀錄中史上首次有飛行器飛的比音速還要快

supersonic flight.

這項里程碑般的成就打消了人們對於人跟飛機到底能不能

And it was just the start.

撐過超音速的疑慮

New speed records quickly followed as supersonic flight became widely understood.

這才只是開始

And it wasn't long before military aircraft were routinely flying

隨著超音速飛行變得更廣為人知，紀錄也陸續被打破

well beyond the sound barrier.

沒多久之後軍用機就經常

If a commercial airliner could be built to do the same, a trip across the Atlantic could

以超音速飛行了

be cut down to just a couple hours, pulling the world closer together.

如果民航機可以做到一樣的速度的話，那樣跨大西洋航班的飛行時間

But flying at supersonic speeds requires engines at least twice as powerful

就只需要幾個小時就好了，也可以讓世界各地更緊密的連在一起

as those on subsonic jets.

不過以超音速飛行也需要比亞音速飛機

Streamlined wings and airframes, and materials that can withstand the high temperatures caused

強最少兩倍的引擎

by air friction.

流線型機翼跟機身，還有可以承受空氣摩擦而造成的

With these technical hurdles, there were doubts about whether supersonic

高溫的新材料

air travel made any sense.

有著這些技術難點之下，對於民航機能否超音速飛行，

But only a decade earlier, there was similar skepticism around the switch

人們開始有了顧慮

from props to jets.

不過在10年前左右，從螺旋槳升級到噴射機

Even so, the transition to jet age happened quickly and it left many aircraft builders

的時候人們也有同樣的顧慮

behind.

就算如此，轉變到噴射機時代的步伐如此之快，讓很多製造商都

The upcoming supersonic age could end up doing the same.

跟不上步伐

In 1949, the British stunned the world with the first jet airliner.

接下來的超音速時代也有可能得出同樣的結果

It flew faster and higher than any airliner before it.

1949年，英國人造出了讓世界震撼的首款噴射客機(德哈維蘭 彗星式)

The Comet was revolutionary, and with it, the British were going to lead the world into

它比之前的任何一款客機都要快要高

the jet age.

而這也是革命性的，有了它，英國人就可以在

That is, until a design flaw caused a string of deadly accidents, temporarily grounding

噴射機時代獨領群雄了

the Comet.

直到某個設計缺陷導致一連串致命事故

Which gave the rest of the world time to catch up.

導致彗星式要暫時停飛

By 1960, for every Comet sold, the Americans were selling another ten jetliners of their

也讓世界其他國家開始跟上來了

own.

到了1960年代，每賣出一架彗星式，美國人就已經賣出

And the British quickly lost their early lead in the jet age.

了10架國產的噴射客機

But if supersonic air travel was the next evolution, Britain would have another chance

而英國就這樣失去了噴射機時代的先發優勢

to retake the lead.

如果超音速航空旅行這項革命性改變成真的話，英國

By 1961, the British had come up with an early design for a supersonic airliner.

還是有機會再領先的

At the same, the French were also working on a similar concept.

到了1961年，英國人設計出了超音速客機的早期設計

As both efforts advanced, it made sense to join forces.

與此同時，法國人的概念機也差不多成型

And after a little creative deal-making and political maneuvering, the two countries partnered

隨著各自的進展，他們一起搞也就很合邏輯了

to launch the Concorde program, signing a treaty in 1962.

經歷一連串“交易的藝術”跟政治動作之後，英法兩國

Britain and France, once fierce aircraft-building rivals would now work together to reinvent

共同在1962年簽訂啟動協和計劃

air travel.

他們倆，曾經在飛機製造方面鬥個你死我活，現在居然坐下來一起

Thousands of the brightest French and British engineers were put to work making supersonic

改變航空旅行了

air travel a reality.

多位抱樂觀態度的英法兩國的工程師開始

Aside from maybe the Apollo moon landings, Concorde was the most technically ambitious

把超音速航空旅行變成現實

project of the century.

可以說除了阿波羅登月計劃之外，協和計劃算得上是20世紀在技術上

It would cruise at twice the speed of sound, with enough range to fly across the Atlantic.

最有野心的計劃

Although it would burn more fuel, Concorde would make two flights in the same time a

飛機可以在帶夠燃料飛行的情況下以音速兩倍的速度跨大西洋飛行

regular jet could make just one.

雖然會更耗油，不過協和式可以用別人飛一趟單程的時間

Offsetting higher fuel costs by reducing the number of aircraft needed for each route.

就完成一次來回了

By 1963, mockups were capturing the world's imagination and dazzling the press.

以每條航線更少的飛機來抵消高昂的燃油費

And Airlines placed orders for more than 70 Concordes.

1963年，這台飛機的模型已經吸引到全世界的想像力，還讓媒體感到很亮眼

A number expected to grow to at least 200 by 1975.

航空公司更下訂了70架以上的協和式

And beneath Concorde's elegant lines was triumph of engineering.

到了1975年更是加訂到最少200架飛機

It's delta wing took over 5,000 hours of wind tunnel testing to perfect.

協和式優美的線條簡直高居工程學上的王座

An ingenious shape that allowed Concorde to fly beyond Mach 2, but also slow enough to

這對三角翼是用了超過5000小時的風洞測試才調整好的

fly into existing airports.

一個可以讓協和飛出音速兩倍以上的速度，但是又可以讓它

Afterburning turbojets were sourced from a Cold War-era bomber.

在現有機場起降的絕頂設計

But they were re-engineered with an innovative intake system that allowed for cruise at supersonic

而那四個渦輪噴射引擎是從冷戰時期的轟炸機搞來的（發展自阿芙羅 火神 的發動機-奧林匹斯593）

speeds for longer than aircraft in history.

重新設計後的發動機有一個創新的進氣道系統

With a streamlined airframe, Concorde's sleek nose obscured the pilot's view.

能讓協和式比歷史上任何一台航空器更能保持在超音速速度

The solution was a nose cone that lowered to provide better visibility during takeoff

流線型的機身也導致了協和式的飛行員視野會被修長的機鼻擋住

and landing.

而解決方案則是鼻錐可以在起降期間

The sheer number of innovations was astounding.

往下降以便提供更佳視野

But by 1967 Concorde was ready to be unveiled to the public.

在這架飛機上創新的東西多得讓人震驚

As Concorde landed, dozens of people telephoned the airport to complain about the noise.

但到了1967年協和式對外亮相的時候

For those who live near the runways at Kennedy Airport claim it's just the noiset plane

它降落的時候倒是讓很多人打電話去機場抗議飛機的噪音

in the world.

對於住在肯尼迪機場（KJFK）跑道附近的居民來說，這架更是

Zero Zero Two didn't help with matters when it left with the loudest takeoff ever recorded

史上最吵的飛機

at Tokyo Airport.

“002號機（G-BSST）在東京國際機場（RJTT，羽田機場）起飛的時候

This magnificent machine is a prime producer of a sound that nobody wants.

更是留下了當地最吵的記錄，對噪音問題更是無補於事”

The sonic boom.

“這台美麗的機器是一台聲音製造器——不過是沒人想要的那種噪音”

So far, 7,000 people have complained.

“也就是音爆的聲音”

The National Science Foundation of the United States Government has...has indicated that

“到目前為止，有7000人抗議過（協和式的噪音）”

there will be severe environmental damage to the ozone layer...

“美國國家科學基金會已經顯示出”

In fact they say the plane is all wrong.

“（協和式）會對臭氧層造成嚴重的環境損害”

Too dare, too small, too dirty, and too noisy.

“人們都說這飛機的存在就是個錯誤”

Your biggest customers have...have gone down the drain.

“太大膽，太小，太髒，而且太吵了”

No they haven't gone down the drain, they...they've….

“你的大客戶都...付之東流了”

The Concorde has always seemed to me to be part of particularly French patriotism….

“沒沒沒，他們還沒流失呢，就是....”

If you kill it, what do you put in its place.

“在我看來協和式計劃就是當成法國人的愛國主義的存在”

I do not kill it....It never lived...It never lived.

“如果你斃掉它的話，你會用什麼頂替它”

There was no future for Concorde from the beginning.

“我可沒有斃了它...這台飛機早就胎死腹中了...”

By the early 1970s, Concorde was facing a perfect storm.

“從一開始協和式就沒有未來了”

There were even doubts about whether the plane would make it into service.

到了1970年代，協和式的情況更是雪上加霜了

For one, Concorde's afterburning turbojets were twice as loud on takeoff compared to

甚至有質疑覺得這台飛機有沒有辦法可以如期服役

jetliners of the day And it led to protests around the world.

其一，它自帶後燃器的引擎在起飛的時候比當時的噴射機都要

And like all supersonic aircraft, Concorde generated sonic booms.

吵兩倍，更引起了世界各地的抗議

Loud bangs heard by anyone under the supersonic flight path.

而且跟所有超音速飛行器一樣，它會產生音爆

Public tolerance for sonic booms had clearly been underestimated because one by one, countries

這是一種可以讓飛行路徑正下方的人都聽到的響聲

started banning supersonic flights over their airspace.

公眾對於音爆的容忍程度很明顯是被低估了，因為國家們一個接著一個

Evidence was also mounting that Concorde could damage the environment.

開始禁止民航機超音速飛越其領空了

If hundreds entered into service...regular high-altitude supersonic flights could destroy

而且也有板上釘釘的證據顯示協和式會對環境造成影響

the ozone layer.

如果真的有上百台服役的話，頻繁的高空超音速航班會把臭氧層

But the biggest challenge facing the program was economics.

給毀掉

Concorde had been designed in the 1960s, when jet fuel was just pennies per gallon.

不過事實上計劃面臨的最大問題是經濟問題

But it would enter commercial service in the mid-to-late 1970s, just as the price of oil

在協和式誕生的1960年，那時候噴射機燃料每加侖才幾便士

began to skyrocket.

不過它要在1970年代中後期才服役，剛剛好碰上

And Concorde burned nearly four times more fuel than even a first generation jetliner,

油價暴漲的年代

while carrying fewer passengers.

而且一台協和式要耗上比初代噴射民航機接近四倍的燃油

The economics made no sense.

可是載客量卻更少

And by the end of 1973 nearly every airline cancelled their options.

根本完全不划算

Leaving just a tiny handful of orders.

到1973年之前下訂單的航空公司都取消了各自的訂單

Nowhere near the 150 planes the program needed to sell just to break even.

只剩下寥寥可數的訂單

All the while, development costs were spiralling out of control.

跟原計劃賣150台就可以盈虧平衡的美夢差很遠

To more than ten times the original estimate by the early 1970s.

與此同時，研發費用也開始失控了

But with the Concorde treaty, neither France nor Britain could back out of the program

比起1970年代早期的預算高出整整10倍以上

without paying the other massive penalties.

不過因為兩國簽訂過協和協議，英法兩國均不能

So with or without orders, the Concorde program would have to push forward.

在不支付天價違約金的情況下退場

After 14 years of development, Concorde was finally ready to enter service, and on January

不管有無訂單，協和式計劃還是得繼續推進

21, 1976, two Concordes simultaneously lifted off carrying their first passengers.

14年過後，協和式終於準備好服役了

It was a huge milestone for the program, but hardly the bold new era of mass supersonic

在1976年1月21日，兩架協和式同時搭載著各自的第一批乘客翱翔天際了

air travel that many had once predicted.

對於計劃來說是個很大的里程碑，但是對於之前的大規模超音速航空旅行

Because British Airways and Air France were the only airlines to put Concordes into service.

的預想來說還差很遠

And both nationally owned airlines had been more or less been forced to.

因為就只有英航跟法航用協和式執飛

Each taking delivery of just a few planes.

而兩家國有的航空公司都可謂是迫於無奈的

With limited range and over land flight restrictions, there were few route options available.

兩家都得拿走幾台飛機

Every time Concorde takes off, British Airways loses money, if it's half empty as it is

在有限的航程跟陸上飛行的限制之下，只有幾條航線能執飛

on the Bahrain route, it's costing them up to twenty thousand Pounds a flight...

每一架協和式起飛，英航都得虧錢，如果飛去

In just the first few years, British Airways and Air France lost tens of millions operating

巴林的飛機只有載滿半架飛機的人，那就是一趟虧兩萬英鎊了

Concordes….

幾年之後，英航跟法航都因為使用協和式

…And by 1980….rumors were swirling that planes would be retired early.

而虧了好幾千萬

It might seem a strange decision to have the government subsidizing one of the most expensive

到1980年，更是有傳協和式要提早退役

forms of transport in the world.

“可能這決定看起來很奇怪，就是要讓政府給全世界其中一種最

But a dramatic turnaround was just around the corner.

昂貴的運輸方式提供補助”

By the mid-1980s, British Airways and Air France were not only still operating their

但是更戲劇性的轉折點就近在眼前了

Concordes, they had figured out how to make huge profits with them.

到了1980年代中期，兩家航空公司不但繼續執飛他們的協和式

With the prospect of supersonic air travel for the masses having come and gone, and with

而且他們也找到發大財的辦法了

only fourteen Concordes in service, the plane was transformed into more than just faster

隨著大規模超音速航空旅行的願景不復存在

air travel.

而且也就那麼14台協和式，這款飛機代表著的不只是

Instead, Concorde was rebranded into an ultra exclusive travel experience.

航空旅行那麼簡單了

Aimed at a new kind of passenger… with much deeper pockets.

它，代表的是頂級的獨有豪華旅行體驗

By the mid-1980s, the price of Concorde tickets had doubled from they were in the 1970s.

他們的新目標客戶...是富得流油的人

At one point costing upwards of 20,000 in today's dollars for a London to New York

到了1980年代中期，協和式的機票已經比1970年代時翻兩倍了

round trip.

在某段時間點倫敦到紐約的來回機票

Concorde might've failed to revolutionize air travel, but it also opened up a profitable

更是要價現今的20000元美金

new market serving celebrities and the ultra-rich.

可能協和式沒成功顛覆航空旅行的方式，但是它開創了一個有錢賺

And with only a handful of aircraft in service, public concern over the environment and noise

的新市場，服務那些名人跟超級富豪

faded.

也因為就這十幾台飛機服役，公眾也沒

Instead for nearly three decades, Concorde served as a symbol of pride for

怎麼再把噪音問題放在眼內了

the British and French.

30多年來，協和式成為了英法兩國

But much like it's development and introduction, Concorde's final years would prove difficult.

的驕傲

A tragic crash in July 2000, caused by a piece of runway debris, tarnished Concorde's impeccable

不過，跟它的開發歷程一樣，協和式的晚年還是挺困難的

safety record.

2000年7月的一次悲劇事故（法航4590班機）中，僅僅因為區區一塊跑道雜物（譯者註：美國大陸航空DC-10的起落架的某條金屬條），就把協和式無懈可擊

A year later the events of September the 11th led to a huge decline in air travel.

的安全記錄給打破了

And then there were the challenges of maintaining such complex and aging planes.

一年後的911襲擊更是把航空業領到寒冬

In 2003, after 27 years of service, the most recognizable and iconic aircraft in history

而隨著維護這款複雜，又日益老化的飛機的挑戰越來越大

was retired by Air France and British Airways.

在2003年，歷經27年歲月，最廣為人知跟標誌性的它

Closing the final chapter on the most ambitious aviation project of the century.

被兩家航空公司一同退役了

There's a lot more to Concorde's story.

為上世紀最具野心的航空計劃的終章畫上句號

And you can keep watching on Nebula, where I cover the extraordinary effort to try to

協和式的故事還有很多可以說

win over skeptical airlines and fascinating plans for a second-generation Concorde that

（廣告時間）你可以在Nebula上看我的下一部影片，涵蓋了有關兩國努力

never was.

說服疑心重重的航空公司還有推廣這款

Nebula is where you can watch Mustard videos before they're on YouTube.

胎死腹中的第二代協和式計劃

Without any ads or sponsor messages.

Nebula可以讓你早於YT看到本頻道的影片

It's also home to a growing number of Nebula Originals and exclusive content from your

也不會有什麼廣告或是贊助商廣告

favorite Youtube Creators.

也是逐漸壯大的Nebula Originals系列影片跟您所訂閱的YTB創作者

Right now, you can get free access to Nebula whenever you sign up for CuriosityStream.

的獨家影片之家

For just $2.99 a month, CuriosityStream gets you access to thousands of high quality documentaries,

現在你可以用申請CuriosityStream帳號的方式免費瀏覽Nebula

and an ever expanding catalog of topics.

每個月只需$2.99，就可以讓您收看成千上萬的優質紀錄片

From History to Nature to Science and Design.

還有龐大的主題影片

Sign up for CuriosityStream for just $2.99 a month and you'll get access to Nebula

從歷史到自然，再從科學到設計影片均有提供

for free by going to CuriosityStream.com/mustard and using

每月只需$2.99即可註冊成CuriosityStream 會員並享有免費瀏覽Nebula的權力

the promo 'mustard' when you sign up.

只需使用CuriosityStream.com/mustard鏈接並