A concept image of Destinus' Jungfrau prototype on top of a truck [Photo: Destinus]
Key Takeaways:
Swiss startup Destinus SA, founded by Mikhail Kokorich, secured $29 million in seed funding to develop autonomous, hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft for global cargo delivery.
These "hyperplanes" are designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 15 (over 11,500 mph) at an altitude of 37 miles, enabling cargo transport anywhere in the world within 1-2 hours.
Destinus is currently flight-testing prototypes and aims for hydrogen-powered supersonic flights in the next 12-18 months, with challenges including high fuel costs and navigating international regulations.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.
For all of the ire and criticism directed toward the “billionaire space race” sparked by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, humanity is getting closer to delivering not just people, but cargo through the farthest reaches of the atmosphere.
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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.
