The pursuit of a hypersonic jet capable of shortening intercontinental travel times has fueled intrigue and anticipation around the world. Destinus, a European company aiming to redefine aviation, is building a ground-breaking aircraft that could revolutionize the way we travel around the world. With a proposed speed of five times the speed of sound, the effort promises to cut long-haul flights from New York to London to just 90 minutes, a fraction of the current journey time.
However, the road to hypersonic travel is not without its challenges. The technical complexities, safety concerns, and significant financial investment associated with the development of such innovative aircraft pose significant obstacles. Comparisons with the retired Concorde, known for its operational difficulties and high costs, cast a shadow of uncertainty over the hypersonic jet’s ambitious aspirations.
Go above hypersonic
A European company claims to be able to build a faster-than-the-speed-of-sound passenger plane that can travel from New York to London in just ninety minutes. The Concorde, which could travel from London to New York in about three hours, was scrapped by Air France due to safety concerns and operating costs. A European company is currently working to create an even better plane than the Concorde. They are developing a personal “hypersonic jet”.
The startup company “Destinus” has plans to build a personal hypersonic plane. The first proposal is for a small 25-person private jet known as the Destinus S. This plane would reach an altitude of about 108,000 feet. A Boeing 737 is a typical aircraft that flies at about 41,000 feet, so the hypersonic jet would be much higher. Additionally, a hypersonic aircraft would travel at five times the speed of sound. That means he could travel 90 minutes by air from Paris to New York.
Another model, the Destinus L, has a capacity of around 300-400 passengers. Development of these aircraft continues and Destinus expects to begin deliveries of the Destinus L aircraft in 2032 or 2035. In the 1940s the Destinus L aircraft will be available.
Comparable to Concorde, but not
The aircraft will accelerate from slow to extremely high speeds using thrusters, which are powerful engines that run on liquid hydrogen. The ability of hydrogen fuel to keep the aircraft cool during flight is essential.
Destinus likened the hypersonic jet to a cross between an airplane and a rocket at the Paris Air Show. They have spoken to many airports and airlines who agree that hydrogen will play a significant role in aviation in the future. However, the cost of building these aircraft is high, so Destinus finances its efforts by offering its services to the energy sector.
Like the Concorde, it has a few drawbacks such as fuel consumption per passenger and of course, the loud noise it makes over residential areas – known as the ‘sonic boom’.
Compared to the Destinus-designed aircraft, the Concorde was flying at about 60,000 feet, so in theory, the sonic booms — unknown to the pilot or the plane’s passengers — should be more subdued than those below.
In contrast, Destinus will travel at speeds more than twice as fast as Concorde flights.
The hypersonic thrusters on the Destinus will travel at over Mach 5, while the Concorde’s top speed is just over Mach 2.
Procedure (in a hypersonic nozzle)
Given that Destinus is still not ready for launch and that fuel costs per passenger are still somewhat high, it is currently unknown how Destinus will address the issues that Concorde has. Airfare costs are expected to be somewhat high (Concorde flights cost about $12,000)3, although they could increase due to the increased speed and consequent time savings – but also increased fuel consumption.
The promise of a hypersonic jet capable of drastically reducing travel times between major cities such as New York and London created excitement and curiosity. Destinus’ ambitious plans to introduce a hypersonic passenger plane that could revolutionize air travel are being met with both anticipation and skepticism. The potential to travel at five times the speed of sound raises hopes for a future where long-distance travel will be significantly shortened.
However, challenges are looming over this breakthrough. High costs, technological barriers, environmental concerns, and uncertainty about ticket prices are significant obstacles. Comparisons with Concorde, which faced safety issues and financial burdens leading to its shutdown, add a layer of caution to the hypersonic jet’s lofty ambitions.
While the prospect of faster travel is exciting, the sustainability and commercial viability of such high-speed flights remains uncertain. The future of Destinus and the realization of hypersonic air travel hangs in the balance pending developments that could potentially redefine the landscape of international aviation.