Speed: Mach 2.2 is the fastest speed possible with known technology already accepted by the FAA. At that speed, you can have good takeoff performance (and comply with airport noise restrictions) and good cruise performance. We'd to build a faster V2 or V3, in due time.

Capital: I can't comment quite yet. (Sorry)

Peter Theil regularly uses lack of aerospace innovation as a yardstick for slowing progress in Technology all the time[0].

He'd pretty much have to at least take the meeting.

[0] One example is the end of the future oped he wrote. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/278758/end-future-pete...

Okay, I'm assuming you can comment now, but we already know.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11346947

SF to NYC seems unlikely; the sonic booms from the transition between subsonic and supersonic are disruptive enough that they're essentially banned over land areas.

Edit: I'm informed by other comments that the boom occurs the entire time you're supersonic, not just during the transition. That makes it even worse.

Interesting. I assumed there could be an engineering way around the boom, but it's not my specialty. I'll have to settle for easier access to Honolulu and Tokyo. :-)

As I've read through the thread, I see that there are efforts to make the boom quieter. Physics won't allow it to ever go away completely, but the hope is that it might be taken down to an acceptable level so that the laws banning overland supersonic flight could be retired. Laws don't change easily though, especially when there are entrenched airlines who would not welcome any new competition - they'll be lobbying against it for sure. I wouldn't be in line for a ticket just yet.