Boeing plans hypersonic passenger jet, 5 times faster than sound

Boeing headquarters

U.S. aerospace leader Boeing has unveiled its plans for what could be the world’s first hypersonic airliner, capable of flying at five times the speed of sound.

With the average speed of sound put at 1,225km per hour, the hypersonic passenger plane would be travelling at a top speed of over 6,125 km per hour.

The fastest passenger jet in recorded history is the Tupolev TU 144, a supersonic plane developed by the soviets.

It could reach speeds up to 1,510 mph (2,430 km/h). While it was retired from commercial use, the Russian space program still used it for training purposes.

With top speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour, the proposed hypersonic passenger jet could shuttle passengers from New York to London, a distance of 3,470 miles (5,585km) in just two hours. flights from New York to London usually take 7 to 8 hours.

The Chicago-based aviation giant revealed the renderings of the aircraft concept Tuesday at the annual American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference in Atlanta.

“Humankind has always wanted to go fast,  always wanted to do things faster,” said Kevin Bowcutt, chief scientists of hypersonics at Boeing.

“We are excited about the potential of hypersonic technology to connect the world faster than ever before,” he said.

The concept is still in the early stages of development, as there are key technical challenges that need to be solved, said Boeing spokesperson Brianna Jackson.

She said it is possible that the concept could become a reality in 20 to 30 years.

Boeing has been testing ultra-fast technology for decades, which could be used for both military and commercial applications, according to the company.

Besides Boeing, other companies such as Lockheed Martin and Aerion Corporation are also working to develop hypersonic aircrafts, the CNN reported.

The news Agency of Nigeria reports that the fastest ever jet in recorded history is the North American X-15.

Its top speed is Mach 6.72 (7,274 km or 4,520 miles). The jet was made by the U.S.A.