A COMPANY has developed a hypersonic hydron-powered passenger jet that could reduce flight time from America to Australia to just under four hours.
The European startup Destinus has been testing a prototype for several years and completed a successful test flight of a prototype at the end of 2022.
The company, based in Switzerland, was founded by Russian physicist and entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich.
“You can reach the other side of the world in three to four hours without compromising on versatility, cost, or noise,” Destinus said.
“Our hypersonic airplanes reduce the time for intercontinental transport by an order of magnitude,” the company continued.
“The speed and long-range capabilities are enabled by hydrogen as a fuel, and it will open new flight paths for passenger and cargo transportation anywhere on Earth,” Destinus ambitiously explained.
The hydrogen-powered aircraft is so fast that it is able to travel at five times the speed of sound, known as Mach 5.
To put it into context, the Concorde traveled at Mach 2 speed.
The aircraft would use hydrogen-fuelled air-breathing turbojet engines for both takeoff and landing.
Destinus claims that the jet would be net zero carbon, and only emit heat and water vapor.
The company’s first aircraft would be able to fit 25 passengers.
It is expected to be ready by 2030.
In the future, they plan to accommodate up to 100 passengers on board.
Destinus is not the only aviation company to unveil designs for supersonic jets of the future.
Hyper Sting is a concept plane that could whisk passengers from London to New York City in just 80 minutes in the near future.
The plane would travel at 2,486mph – twice as fast as the Concorde.
