Hermeus Quarterhorse Hypersonic Aircraft
There are several companies working on supersonic jets. Hermeus is looking to leapfrog them all. Dubbed the Quarterhorse, their unmanned test aircraft is designed for hypersonic flight, with a top speed of Mach 5.5, or 4,219 mph. Powering it is a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine that uses the proven GE J85 turbojet engine for launch and landing, while in-flight, it feeds air into a ramjet that ups the power to the levels required to reach such insane speeds. Already funded via a partnership with the U.S. Air Force, the company plans to have the Quarterhorse in the air and testing by 2023. It will be followed by a cargo-only version in 2025, and, if all goes well, a larger commercial passenger version in 2029 capable of traveling from New York to London in under an hour.