(Independent) A Chinese aerospace firm has completed the first test flight of a passenger plane that it claims can fly at Mach 4 – more than twice the speed of Concorde.
Beijing-based Space Transportation, also known as Lingkong Tianxing Technology, said the prototype of its Yunxing plane has conducted a successful outing ahead of further engine tests in November.
The first full-scale supersonic passenger jet is expected to perform its maiden flight in 2027, according to the South China Morning Post, who first reported the test flight.
If successful, the Chinese-built craft could become the first supersonic airliner to fly passengers in nearly a quarter of a century, with Concorde completing its final flight in 2003.
Travelling at speeds of 5,000kph (3,000mph), the new plane could potentially fly between London and New York in 1.5 hours. The fastest transatlantic crossing for a Concorde was 2 hours and 53 minutes, while standard airliners take around eght hours.
Space Transportation claims that its hypersonic plane can travel at speeds of Mach-4, which is double the speed of Concorde (Space Transportation)
Space Transportation is one of several companies attempting to reignite commercial supersonic air travel.
US-based Venus Aerospace is currently developing a jet engine that it claims could go as fast as Mach 6 and “make the hypersonic economy a reality”.
SpaceX and Tesla boss Elon Musk has also expressed his interest in building a supersonic jet, though is not in the process of developing one due to his workload.
Credit: The Independent
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