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- NATION, Page 49American NotesAIRCRAFTSupersonic Trash
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- When it was proposed in 1963, the supersonic transport was
- touted as an air traveler's dream. Flying at 1,782 m.p.h., it
- could cross the Atlantic in less than three hours. But in 1971,
- after $1.2 billion had been spent, the U.S. gave in to swelling
- environmental and economic criticism and killed the project.
- The only full-scale prototype of the 288-ft.-long SST was sold
- to an aircraft museum in Kissimmee, Fla., for $31,000.
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- A few years later, the Osceola New Life Assembly Church
- bought the hangar, and the SST was thrown in for free. Pastor
- Ernie DeLoach began holding services in the hangar, with the
- pterodactyl-like mock-up perched near his pulpit. But now the
- building needs renovation, and the SST must go. Unless someone
- comes to the rescue, the church will sell it to the highest
- bidder. One proposal: hack up the plane into 1-in. squares to
- be sold for souvenirs.
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