Dawn Aerospace achieves supersonic milestone with rocket-powered aircraft
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - Dawn Aerospace in Christchurch, New Zealand, operating as Dawn Hypersonics, announced a breakthrough during the supersonic flight of its Mk-II Aurora rocket-powered aircraft. The flight, conducted on 12 Nov. from Glentanner Aerodrome near Aoraki Mt. Cook, marked the first time a civil aircraft has flown supersonic since the Concorde era.
During the test, the Aurora reached Mach 1.1, climbing to an altitude of 82,500 feet, which is more than double the cruising height of commercial airliners. The flight exceeded its test targets of Mach 1.05 and 75,000 feet. Dawn Aerospace says that the aircraft set a global record, ascending from ground level to 66,000 feet in 118.6 seconds, surpassing a record set by a modified F-15 ‘Streak Eagle’ in the 1970s by 4.2 seconds.
"This achievement highlights the immense potential of rocket-powered aircraft to achieve performance never seen before," said Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace. "With flight test 57, we retired the final major technical risk in the Aurora program: vehicle dynamics through the transonic regime. We have now confirmed the Aurora as the highest climb rate vehicle ever built."
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The Mk-II Aurora is designed to reach the edge of space, climbing to 100 kilometers (62 miles) in altitude and achieving speeds of Mach 3.5. Unlike traditional jet engines, its pure rocket propulsion system provides a thrust-to-weight ratio 20 times higher, allowing for applications such as atmospheric research, Earth observation, and high-speed flight testing.
Dawn Hypersonics plans to focus on hypersonic flight development for international markets while continuing research, development, and testing from its base in Christchurch. Powell credited New Zealand’s open skies and advanced aerospace testing facilities as critical factors in the company’s success.
"We are grateful to the New Zealand Government and people for their part in helping us achieve this important milestone," Powell said. "New Zealand is poised to become a global hub for advanced aerospace testing, including hypersonic research."
