• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
China developing hypersonic passenger jet that could reach anywhere in the world within two hours

Home> Vehicles> Plane news

Published 15:26 3 Sep 2024 GMT+1

China developing hypersonic passenger jet that could reach anywhere in the world within two hours

The new aircraft is set to be six times faster than the Concorde

Rikki Loftus

Rikki Loftus

The days of spending up to a full day traveling to reach your holiday destination could soon be a thing of the past.

China is currently developing a hypersonic passenger jet that could reach anywhere in the world within just two hours.

The new jet is set to be an incredible six times faster than the Concorde and test flights could start as early as next year.

The new jet is set to be six times faster than the Concorde (Andrew Holt/Getty Images)
The new jet is set to be six times faster than the Concorde (Andrew Holt/Getty Images)

Advert

A smaller prototype for the 'Nanqiang No 1' has been developed and the project has undergone testing in a lab in Fujian Province.

Test flights with a full-sized prototype are scheduled for 2025.

Weighing just 500kg, it’ll fit 10 people and it’s hoped that paying passengers could be boarding these planes in the next decade.

Using a combination of turbofan, as well as rocket and ramjet engines, the aircraft will be able to reach a speed of Mach 6, which is six times the speed of sound.

Advert

Lead project scientist Yin Zeyong, a lead project scientist, said that 'the breakthrough of this technology will greatly shorten the round-the-world flight time.'

China hopes that the jet will be welcoming passengers within the next decade (Naeblys/Getty Images)
China hopes that the jet will be welcoming passengers within the next decade (Naeblys/Getty Images)

'It can change human civilization,' said Yin, who is also the director of science and technology with the Aero Engine Corporation of China.

While the team began their work on the jet in 2019, they are yet to make it go supersonic and it hasn’t yet reached speeds over Mach 1, which is 767mph.

Advert

The team have also not revealed how the aircraft will slow down once it reaches its top speed or in the event of an emergency.

However, if successful, the Nanqiang No 1 will rival Concorde, which had a maximum speed of 1,354mph or Mach 2, which is twice the speed of sound.

Other countries are trying to develop their own supersonic jets but few are trying to make theirs hypersonic - which is where it travels faster than Mach 5.

China are developing a jet that could rival the Concorde (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
China are developing a jet that could rival the Concorde (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Advert

One issue that could act as a roadblock for Nanqiang No 1 is the noise created by traveling at such speeds.

Only small and experimental vehicles have been able to reach Mach 6 so far, partly due to a sonic boom that can be caused by it.

The development of this jet comes after a previous announcement about multiple hypersonic weapon tests that were being conducted in China.

Several other companies have also revealed that they’re developing a hypersonic aircraft that could be used for military and also civilian purposes.

Advert

It could well mean that, in the future, it’ll take us just a couple of hours to reach the other side of the planet.

Featured Image Credit: Andrew Holt/Getty Images
China
Science
Travel
Plane News
Vehicles

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Little known reason why airplanes 'disappear' from radar when flying across ocean
  • Passenger makes shocking discovery on flight that leaves all airline crew suspended
  • China is developing deeply disturbing genetically modified ‘super soldiers’ says ex-intelligence officer
  • Terrifying audio captures moment pilot slams on brakes to avoid crash that could have killed hundreds

Choose your content:

4 days ago
5 days ago
  • u/watcher2390 / Redditu/watcher2390 / Reddit
    4 days ago

    Airline deliberately crashed Boeing 727 plane to discover the safest seats during a crash

    What better way to test for safety?

    Vehicles
  • Kennedy News / Melanie WellsKennedy News / Melanie Wells
    4 days ago

    'Flight from Hell' grounded by mystery illness as hazmat team is forced to enter

    We've seen enough zombie movies to know how this one ends

    Vehicles
  • Pool / Pool / GettyPool / Pool / Getty
    5 days ago

    TV presenter blames Elon Musk's Tesla for speeding as he's banned from driving for six months

    Tesla removed its speed alert warnings in February 2024

    Vehicles
  • wera Rodsawang / Gettywera Rodsawang / Getty
    5 days ago

    Flight attendant reveals important health reason you should avoid the window seat

    We'll definitely be booking the aisle next time

    Vehicles