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Hermeus Flies Second Supersonic Test Plane in Nine Months

Maiden flight of company’s Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 follows testing of a smaller, less powerful model.

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

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Hermeus’ Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 prepares for its first flight over White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. [Credit: Hermeus]

Key Takeaways:

Hermeus successfully completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, marking the company's second supersonic test aircraft debut in just over nine months.
The Mk 2.1 is a larger, faster test article incorporating a unique Chimera engine (turbojet-ramjet hybrid) and aims to break the sound barrier as a stepping stone towards the Mach 5 Darkhorse, a hypersonic uncrewed aircraft for defense missions.
Hermeus employs a rapid iteration development strategy, similar to SpaceX, with frequent test flights to incrementally push speed limits, backed by significant partnerships and funding from the U.S. military.

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For the second time in just over nine months, an Atlanta-based company this week debuted a new supersonic test aircraft.

Hermeus on Monday said it completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, one of several test articles the company is developing as it iterates toward its flagship Darkhorse—a reusable, multi-mission, hypersonic uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for defense and national security missions.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.