The proposed supersonic jet could whisk commercial passengers from New York to London in a fraction of the time it takes to watch an in-flight movie. The announcement comes as the U.S. space agency revealed its exploration of the “business case for supersonic passenger air travel.”
The envisioned aircraft is poised to achieve remarkable speeds ranging from Mach 2 to Mach 4, which translates to an astonishing 1,535 to 3,045 miles per hour (mph). This would put it leagues ahead of the top speed of an F/A-18 fighter jet, which clocks in at Mach 1.8 or 1,190 mph.
In a significant step forward, NASA has initiated the next phase of its high-speed air travel research.
The agency recently awarded two 12-month contracts to industry giants Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and other key players.
Their mission? To conceptualise and pave the way for the development of this revolutionary jet, crafting a comprehensive “technology roadmap.”
This innovative pursuit builds upon NASA’s recent achievement: the successful completion of the X-59 quiet supersonic test aircraft.
This experimental aircraft was engineered to mitigate its own sonic booms, minimising noise disruptions caused by breaking the sound barrier. The lessons learned from the X-59 program will serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the new supersonic jet endeavour.
Anticipation is high as the X-59 is poised to embark on its inaugural test flight later this year, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s ongoing journey to redefine and revolutionise high-speed air travel.
As the agency pushes the boundaries of aviation technology, the prospect of faster-than-ever flights between major global cities draws closer to becoming a reality.
