The first tests of the Yunxing prototype, developed by Space Transportation , also known as Beijing Lingkong Tianxing Technology , were successfully carried out in China. The prototype aircraft has been designed to reach speeds of up to Mach 4, twice as fast as the Concorde aircraft, which was retired in 2003 and reached Mach 2.
Yunxing supersonic aircraft from Space Transportation
The test flight on October 27 confirmed the structural stability and operation of the Yunxing’s propulsion systems . Although the company has not revealed specific details about the engines, evaluations scheduled for November anticipate more technical information about their design and performance capabilities. Space Transportation ‘s primary goal is to conduct the first full flight of this aircraft by 2027.
The Yunxing aims to change intercontinental transport, reducing the flight time between Beijing and New York to just two hours. This represents a radical change in the commercial aviation industry and positions China in the race to develop high-speed passenger aircraft.
This development is part of a global trend to revive supersonic commercial flights. On the international scene, companies such as Reaction Engines in the United Kingdom are developing the Sabre hybrid engine, which could reduce flight times between Europe and the United States to two hours. Meanwhile, the American company Boom Supersonic is advancing the construction of the Overture aircraft, designed to reach Mach 2.2 and planned for transatlantic passenger flights from 2029.
Chinese technology giant Yunxing is betting on the aircraft as a response to growing demand for fast and efficient transport, and if development goes as planned, it could be one of the first supersonic passenger jets to enter service in decades.
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Source and photo: Space Transportation