Hermeus has unveiled a full-scale concept mockup of its Quarterhorse hypersonic jet, which is being developed with a $60 million U.S. Air Force contract.
The Quarterhorse is designed to fly at Mach 5 (over 3,000 mph), potentially reducing flight times significantly (e.g., New York to Paris in 90 minutes).
The aircraft is being considered for multiple roles, including a future Air Force One, military surveillance, and passenger transportation.
Its propulsion system features a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, integrating repurposed GE J85 turbofans with proprietary ramjet technology.
Engineers have unveiled a full-scale concept mockup of a hypersonic jet, which could be developed in the future to serve as Air Force One.
The airplane—dubbed Quarterhorse—is being developed by Atlanta-based startup Hermeus, which revealed the mockup Thursday during an exclusive event at an undisclosed location attended by company executives, investors, and the U.S. Air Force.
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
