Hypersonic Aircraft That Can Fly from New York to London in Under 30 Minutes Unveiled by U.S. Firm

Imagine boarding a plane in New York and stepping out in London before your coffee gets cold. This once science-fiction dream is inching closer to reality, thanks to a groundbreaking hypersonic aircraft unveiled by a U.S. aerospace firm. This new aircraft, which can fly more than five times faster than the speed of sound, is expected to revolutionize how we travel, move military supplies, and push the boundaries of aerospace technology.

Introduction: The Next Leap in Aviation

The aviation industry has witnessed remarkable progress in the past century—from the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 to the commercial jet era and the Concorde’s supersonic flights in the 20th century. Still, we might be on the edge of a major breakthrough—hypersonic travel could be the next big leap forward.

A U.S.-based aerospace startup, Venus Aerospace, recently unveiled its prototype of a hypersonic aircraft capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 9—nine times the speed of sound. The firm claims that this could enable passengers to travel from New York to London in under 30 minutes, a journey that typically takes 6–7 hours on commercial jets.

What Is a Hypersonic Aircraft?

Before diving into the features of the newly unveiled aircraft, let’s understand what makes hypersonic travel so revolutionary.

Hypersonic aircraft are capable of flying at speeds more than five times the speed of sound—exceeding 6,000 kilometers per hour or roughly 3,800 miles per hour. By comparison:

• Typical commercial airplanes cruise at around Mach 0.85, which is approximately 900 kilometers per hour.
• The now-retired Concorde used to fly at speeds of Mach 2.04, or about 2,180 kilometers per hour.
• Hypersonic aircraft exceed this threshold by multiple times

This makes hypersonic travel a quantum leap in aviation, significantly reducing flight times across the globe.

The Aircraft: Meet the “Stargazer” by Venus Aerospace

Overview

Venus Aerospace’s hypersonic spaceplane, dubbed “Stargazer”, is being hailed as the world’s fastest commercial aircraft under development. According to company sources, the Stargazer will be able to:

• Fly at Mach 9—almost 11,000 kilometers per hour, or about 6,800 miles per hour.
• Reach altitudes of 170,000 feet (over 51 km)
• Carry 12 passengers
• Complete transcontinental flights in under 30 minutes

Design and Technology

The Stargazer isn’t just fast—it’s also engineered with futuristic technology to ensure safety, fuel efficiency, and reusability. Some of its core design elements include:

• Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE): Unlike conventional jet engines, RDEs use a continuous detonation process, offering improved fuel efficiency and higher thrust-to-weight ratios.
• Advanced Thermal Protection: At Mach 9, the aircraft surface will face extreme temperatures exceeding 1,600°C. Venus Aerospace has integrated heat-resistant materials and thermal management systems similar to those used on space shuttles.
• Horizontal Takeoff and Landing (HTOL): Unlike rocket-powered spaceplanes, Stargazer is designed to take off and land like a regular jet, making it more practical for integration into existing airport infrastructure.
• High-altitude, Suborbital Flight Path: Stargazer will ascend to near-space altitudes, where air resistance is lower, allowing it to maintain hypersonic speeds more efficiently.

How Does It Work?

1. Takeoff: The plane takes off from a conventional airport runway using turbofan engines.
2. Ascent: After reaching a safe cruising altitude, it ignites its rotating detonation engine.
3. Boost Phase: The aircraft accelerates to Mach 9, briefly exiting the stratosphere into suborbital space.
4. Cruising: At altitudes around 170,000 feet, the Stargazer “skips” along the upper atmosphere, covering thousands of miles in minutes.
5. Descent and Landing: The aircraft reenters denser airspace and glides back for a standard runway landing.

Flight Time Comparison: Hypersonic vs Commercial Jets