Long distance travelers could soon reduce their travel times significantly as new high-speed aircraft concepts are announced by multiple companies. One of the most likely to succeed is a hypersonic airliner idea recently revealed by Boeing, which claims it could speed travelers across the Pacific Ocean in just three hours. CNBC reported the aircraft manufacturer unveiled its concept at an aerospace conference in Atlanta.
The future aircraft would fly at approximately 4,000 mph, and cruise at 95,000 feet, three times faster and 30,000 feet higher than the supersonic Concorde, which retired in 2003, the Daily Star reported. Boeing’s hypersonic aircraft is set to enter service in the late 2030s, according to the Daily Star.
Kevin Bowcutt, Boeing’s senior technical fellow and chief scientist of hypersonics, described in a release why Boeing would take on the effort to design this complex aircraft. “Boeing is building upon a foundation of six decades of work designing, developing and flying experimental hypersonic vehicles, which makes us the right company to lead the effort in bringing this technology to market in the future,” he said. Boeing also said in the release that the aircraft could have multiple applications.
Along with being an airliner, the aircraft could also be used in military and commercial settings. Additionally, this design is not the only concept Boeing is studying. The manufacturer is currently looking at several different designs that would support a broad range of uses.
Boeing’s hypersonic concept, as well as other future aircraft, will be on display at the Farnborough Air Show, set to take place on July 16 through 22 in Farnborough, England.
