The U.S. is making significant strides in supersonic and hypersonic aircraft technology. Several companies and agencies are developing experimental jets that could revolutionize air travel and military applications.
Hermeus’ Hypersonic Aircraft: The American aviation company Hermeus is advancing the Quarterhorse program, aiming to develop the first reusable hypersonic aircraft. Their prototype, Quarterhorse Mk 1, is set for its initial flight soon and is expected to reach speeds over Mach 4 (nearly four times the speed of sound). The program will eventually culminate in the development of the Darkhorse platform for military purposes, potentially flying above Mach 5
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.Venus Aerospace: Another U.S. company, Venus Aerospace, is working on a hypersonic jet engine capable of reaching Mach 6. Their goal is to enable commercial flights between major cities like London and New York in under an hour. Test flights are anticipated soon, with the jet expected to fly at very high altitudes, providing a view of the Earth’s curvature
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.NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Jet: NASA is also entering the supersonic race with its X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) experimental aircraft, expected to take flight in 2024. This jet is designed to achieve supersonic speeds without producing disruptive sonic booms, potentially paving the way for the return of supersonic commercial flights
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These developments suggest that both military and commercial hypersonic and supersonic flight could become a reality in the near future, reshaping global travel and defense capabilities.