BEIJING - Scientists in China have announced that a jumbo jet prototype built by them had managed to reach hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above) during a flight test, Abhishek Bjardwaj writes for Interesting Engineering. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
18 December 2024 - Chinese scientists claim their bulky aircraft prototype reached Mach 6.56 (5,033 mph) during a test flight in August 2021 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The results, initially kept secret due to project sensitivity, were recently revealed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in a social media post featuring a speech by project leader Cui Kai.
The 20-minute test flight reportedly validated the feasibility of the design, overcoming skepticism about its unconventional, bulky form. Historically, hypersonic technologies have been limited to missiles and unmanned military vehicles due to restricted internal space. Cui's work marks a significant step toward future hypersonic passenger and cargo aircraft, pushing aviation technology beyond supersonic models like the Concorde.
Related: The emerging world of hypersonic weapons technology
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
