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Comment by manacit | Hacker News Reader

This company is the next Theranos, and I don't think it's even that bold of a statement to say.

They don't have an engine for a plane that they have yet to fly, for a concept that has limited commercial viability in the first place. We will look at companies like United and American Airlines that signed letters of intent to purchase these as foolish idiots.

In the day and age of remote meetings, there is nearly no alpha in being able to be in London three hours earlier from NYC. You would simply hop on a Zoom call if it were that urgent. Nobody is going to pay up for the cost if they are flying for leisure. There are limited viable routes in in the first place.

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LOIs are nearly free. They're basically securing a spot at the front of the line just in case Boom manages to deliver.

Unlike Theranos, supersonic engines already exist and they are regularly used by the military. The issue is that none of the big boys are willing to pony up a lot of money to build, test and certify one for civilian use unless they can definitely get paid for their effort.

And yes, there are willing buyers who will pay ludicrous amounts for comfort or speed, as the increasingly elaborate arms race in first class (eg. multi-room suites a la Etihad's Residence) and the entire private jet market demonstrate. The Concorde was profitable towards the end of its life despite mind-bogglingly high fuel costs, so there's definitely a market if -- and it's a big if -- Boom can pull it off.

> This company is the next Theranos, and I don't think it's even that bold of a statement to say.

It’s a very bold statement to say when you have no evidence that Boom would or even could ship an airplane that would put people’s lives in danger.

Theranos was not simply a company that made large promises that required leaps in technology and then lied repeatedly about having succeeded in making those leaps. They risked patient safety by providing phony blood test results. It’s important not throw around that epithet unless it’s earned.

Yep, I think it's more accurate to call them the next Nikola - another vaporware effort with "superior technology" supposedly waiting in the wings

> They don't have an engine for a plane that they have yet to fly

To really be Theranos-tier, they'd have lied about having the engine already. They didn't go that far, they never claimed to have the engine already. Nor is the engine they desire one that's actually impossible, as Therano's vision was.

> We will look at companies like United and American Airlines that signed letters of intent to purchase these as foolish idiots.

Has it cost them anything at this point? A little PR bump for zero expense and zero consequences doesn't seem all that foolish.

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