Venus Aerospace, a Texan company developing hypersonic technology, is developing a hypersonic jet, dubbed the Stargazer, that will be six times faster than the speed of sound.
The new aircraft, named Stargazer, is expected to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in under one hour. Typically, the time between cities such as New York and London is around seven hours. Around 21 direct flights from New York City to London are available daily. The $33 million airliner would significantly enhance travel for those wishing to cross the Atlantic.
This travel is made possible thanks to the VDR2 (Venus Detonation Ramjet 2000 lb Thurst Engine), which the company recently unveiled at the Up.Summit innovation event in Bentonville, Arkansas. The engine is designed to power high-speed vehicles such as drones and jets, enabling them to travel long distances at high altitudes. “This engine makes the hypersonic economy a reality. “We are excited to partner with Velontra to achieve this revolution in high-speed flight, given their expertise in high-speed air combustion,” said Dr. Andrew Duggleby, co-founder of Venus Aerospace, during the Up.Summit.
This is not the first research to shorten cross-ocean flights. The hypersonic craft designed by Venus Aerospace is expected to reach 7,400 km/h, slightly faster than the jet Space Transportation is working on. It aims for a speed of around 7,000 km/h. However, both aircraft are significantly faster than the Concorde, whose top speed is 2,179 km/h.
Passengers aboard the Stargazer will not only be able to reach their destination much faster but also fly higher in the air. The estimated altitude that the jet is expected to reach is 110,00 feet (33,5 km), which is significantly higher than the typical commercial flight reaching up to 40,000 feet (12,1 km).
This altitude will give travellers a chance to see the curvature of the Earth, making this flight a whole new experience. In addition, the Stargazer will depart using traditional airplane engines, and then switch to the VDR2 system after reaching a suitable altitude.
Venus Aerospace is anticipated to finish a second drone test by 2025, advancing its research and project development.
