Hypersonic
A few months ago, we discussed the aviation industry and its increasing movement towards supersonic flight. More specifically, we analyzed the past as well as the future with the projects being worked on. As of 2022, more projects have come on board, seeking to revolutionize the future of aviation with speed. But before diving into the story, let’s take a quick recap of aviation history. After all, in the words of philosopher George Santayana “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. So, when we look back at the first attempt at supersonic flight, we see the Concorde of the late 90s and early 2000s which flew at almost twice the speed of sound before its discontinuation for not being economical in October 2003. The high costs associated with the plane came due to its immense fuel demands, low passenger capacity, and high operational costs.
One company we’ve discussed is “Boom Supersonic” which is working on their Overture supersonic planes, which fly at a top speed of Mach 1.7, or approximately 1,300 miles per hour. This may seem fast, but in comparison to aircraft start-up, Hermeus, this speed is nothing. Hermeus is a new startup in the space and just announced a $100 million round of funding to complete the development of its first prototype aircraft, with the first flights planned for 2023. The aircraft’s prototypes named the Quarterhorse and Darkhorse are the precursors for a vision of a hypersonic commercial passenger jet, called Halcyon. The Halcyon is planned to reach “hypersonic” speeds at around Mac 5 or five times the speed of sound and take flight in the early 2030s. At this immense speed, passengers will be able to cross the Atlantic in 90 minutes. The company is also working with NASA and the United States Airforce to “de-risk” hypersonic flight tech and explore the technologies applications for national security. What do you think about these ambitious startups in aviation? And do you think hypersonic commercial flight is a possibility?
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.
