The Chinese aerospace company Space Transportation conducted a test flight of a prototype supersonic commercial aircraft called Yunxing.
The plane will reach a speed of Mach 4, twice as fast as the Franco-British supersonic airliner Concorde, decommissioned in 2003, reports the SCMP. The test confirmed the stability of the aircraft’s structure and the performance of key technical solutions, including its jet engines.
The first flight of the full-size plane, capable of reducing flight times between Beijing and New York to two hours, is planned for 2027.
The prototype was tested last Saturday, while the condition of the engine will be assessed in November. According to Yunxing’s image, the plane is equipped with two engines of unknown design. The company did not provide any details.
The appearance of China’s new supersonic commercial aircraft coincides with the global trend of developing high-speed passenger aircraft.
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Thus, the British company Reaction Engines announced in 2019 its progress in the development of a hybrid engine, capable of operating commercial flights between Europe and the United States in two hours. The company said its Saber propulsion system could push the boundaries of commercial aviation.
The American company Boom Supersonic has developed the Overture aircraft, inspired by the legendary Concorde. This aircraft will perform transatlantic passenger flights starting in 2029, reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.2.