Science
Breakthrough In Aviation: Talon, a Hypersonic Plane, Reaches 3,800 MPH In Test Flight
As one business successfully completes a test flight for an experimental hypersonic plane, global travel may soon become much more efficient.
If you were a youngster growing up, you undoubtedly expected that hoverboards, flying automobiles, and super-fast global travel would be commonplace in 2025.
And after years of despair, there might finally be hope for incredibly quick international travel because a company just successfully tested a plane that can go around the world in just seven hours.
In our lifetime, will travelling to New York become as convenient as nipping to the shops? What exactly happened?
US aerospace start-up Stratolaunch successfully completed two hypersonic test flights with their reusable Talon-A vehicle, according to documents made public by the Pentagon yesterday, May 5. December 2024 saw the completion of the first flight, and March 2025 saw the completion of the second.
The ultra-fast plane was launched from Stratolaunch’s aircraft Roc, a monstrous jet with a double fuselage and a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters), according to a report from Flight Global.
The Talon-A vehicle was launched over the Pacific Ocean in both tests, and before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the aircraft reached a speed higher than Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound and is regarded as the lower threshold for hypersonic travel.
According to The Sun, the powerful jet could theoretically complete a full orbit of the earth in seven hours because it could achieve a maximum speed of 3,800 mph.
According to the BBC Sky at Night magazine, a typical commercial passenger airliner would take 42 hours to complete a full circumnavigation of the globe at an average speed of 575–600 mph.
Thus, it is easy to understand why the concept of hypersonic flying is so alluring.
Two successful completions of the test also suggests a promising future for further testing, with Stratolaunch CEO Dr Zachary Krevor telling Aerospace Testing International: “We’ve now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery and proven reusability.”
Not only is Stratolaunch experimenting with hypersonic travel, but other ambitious businesses like Venus Aerospace and Boom Technology are also experimenting with extremely powerful planes.
The sole drawback? Hypersonic flying is unlikely to occur in our lives, and even if it does, it’s doubtful that any of us will be able to afford it.
Now Trending:
- Massive Earthquake Devastates Myanmar and Thailand, Thousands Believed Dead
- Skyscraper Under Construction Collapses Like House Of Cards After A Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake In Myanmar
- A Massive Earthquake With A Magnitude Of 7.7 Struck Bangkok, Causing The Destruction Of An Apartment Block And The Evacuation Of Travelers From Hotels
Please SHARE this article with Family and Friends and let us know what you think in comments!
