Boeing just unveiled its design for a hypersonic spy aircraft that could fly faster than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
Boeing has revealed first details of a reusable Mach 5-plus aircraft design that could pave the way for future high-speedaircraft.
The new design concept could operate at Mach 5 speed – around 3,400 mph. The famous SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was the highest flying and fastest aircraft ever built. In 1976, it reached a world-record speed of 2,192 miles per hour.
Although this hypersonic aircraft is designed to carry out military missions, these designs could also impact commercial aviation and eventually make traveling around the world in three hours a possibility for travelers. Right now, a Boeing 787 travels at cruising speeds of 547 miles per hour – a hypersonic jet traveling at Mach 5 could reach more than 3,400 miles per hour.
Boeing’s concept is still in the design phase, but Watch U.S. Fly will keep you updated as Boeing continues along the journey to hypersonic flight.