As air travel has become more and more efficient with new technological advances, many scientists are pushing the limits when it comes to supersonic planes. As such, NASA announced that it's exploring a supersonic plane capable of traveling up to 3,300 mph.
Supersonic Plane
NASA has been pushing the limits when it comes to travel as the agency pushes the limits with a supersonic plane that's expected to carry passengers from New York to London in just an hour and a half. This comes as part of the agency's announcement that they're exploring the next stage for supersonic air travel.
So far, the craft has promised speeds of 1,535 to 3,045 mph, which is already more than the top speed of certain fighter jets. For example, the F/A-18 fighter jet can only reach 1,190 mph at top speed, about almost a third of what the new craft promises.
NASA said that they've already commenced research into the next level of commercial private air travel, with two 12-month contracts already being granted to two commercial air travel companies. Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and other companies will be working together to accomplish the new jet.
NASA X-59 Supersonic Aircraft
Recently, NASA tested its X-59 supersonic aircraft, which muffles sonic booms and will serve as a major inspiration for the newer project. The next stage of testing would involve an actual flight.
After the space agency finishes the first flight, the aircraft will be formally given by Lockheed Martin to NASA, which is a milestone expected to happen in 2024. After this, the third phase of the program for the X-59 will commence, with trial flights happening over several cities in the US.
Aside from achieving a fast travel time, NASA also wants to collect data regarding the residents' response to the flight. This would allow the space agency to test whether they've successfully mitigated enough noise to pass certain restrictions.
Fastest Supersonic Jet
So far, the Concorde is considered the fastest passenger jet which crossed the Atlantic in 2 hours and 52 minutes. This passenger jet was made by the French and British and achieved this feat on February 7, 1996.
About three decades later, NASA plans to cut the total travel time in half, allowing for it to travel way faster than conventional planes. For comparison, the average speed for most standard large airliners is just about 600 mph.
These conventional planes take at least 5 hours for them to make a trip from New York to London. Despite the Concorde being the fastest jet, they were retired in 2003 as the commercial aviation industry experienced backlash coming from the first and only Concorde crash in 2000.
For measurement, NASA plans to make trips from New York City to London four times faster than what's typically available. The space agency also believes that there could be up to 50 established routes in the passenger markets that could potentially see the use of the newer, faster jet.
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