A new hypersonic aircraft concept has come to light that would make the world a much smaller place if it were to become reality. The Antipode would be able to travel between continents in a matter of minutes at speeds up to Mach 24, said its creator, Canadian engineer and inventor Charles Bombardier (who is also the grandson of the founder of Bombardier Inc., a name that is synonymous with aviation). Antipode is one of several conceptual vehicles created by Bombardier through his non-profit organization Imaginactive.
The Antipode is a follow on to Bombardier’s Skreemr, another hypersonic aircraft concept that would use a scramjet engine and fly as fast as Mach 10. However, the Antipode would have an innovative propulsion system with reusable rocket boosters used for takeoff. Once in cruise, the rockets would separate from the Antipode and return to the departure point. A supersonic combustion ramjet engine would then ignite and shoot the aircraft through the sky.
The sonic boom issue would be eliminated by a phenomenon called long penetration mode (LPM), a concept that has been tested by NASA. LPM reduces the heating, shockwaves and noise related to breaking the sound barrier.
The actual design of the aircraft was conceived by Abhishek Roy from a desing lab in India called Lunatic Koncepts. The likelihood of the Antipode becoming reality may be slim. And if it did, the cost of operation would be too high for commercial travel. Bombardier sees its potential as a vehicle for transporting government officials in high crisis situations. Whether the Antipode will ever fly, who knows, but it sure looks cool! And the technologies incorporated in the design may lead to something viable in the future.
