2 hours from NY to Sydney (The Hypersonic Age is Near)

[Midnight Mike]

The Hypersonic Age is Near

Recent breakthroughs in scramjet engines could mean two-hour flights from New York to Tokyo. They could also mean missiles capable of striking any continent in a moment's notice. No wonder the race to develop them is as fierce as ever.

This could mean two-hour flights from New York to Sydney.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationsp ... drcrd.html (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/a3bfe2e6fb5c6110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html)

[mirrodie]

Been waiting for it. It can't come any sooner!

[T-Bird76]

Been waiting for it. It can't come any sooner!

The missiles or the flight Mario? LOL ;)

[moose135]

This could mean two-hour flights from New York to Sydney.

But still 2 weeks until your luggage turns up :wink:

[madcatimages]

I still like the looks of the Concorde better. But if you can feel the acceleration on the scram jet that would be fun! :mrgreen:

[Matt Molnar]

I wonder how they would make something that powerful comfortable for passengers. I don't think the average traveler would appreciate 8g's during takeoff.

[T-Bird76]

I wonder how they would make something that powerful comfortable for passengers. I don't think the average traveler would appreciate 8g's during takeoff.

I'd imagine it would be a steady speed up to cruising speed vs a Space Shuttle like blast off.

[lijk604]

Then as soon as you get up to speed, they have to throw out the speed brakes to slow down for landing. :lol:

[dimamo1983]

Popsci... ugh... I once subscribed using a trial offer and every issue was more of a futuristic Pop fantasies than Science...

[mirrodie]

I wonder how they would make something that powerful comfortable for passengers. I don't think the average traveler would appreciate 8g's during takeoff.

Tom probably describes it right.

Even on Concorde, ti was an awesome acceleration to 250 mph on the ground and it really felt like you were riding a rocket. But that feeling lasted about 3-4 minutes. The transition to mach 1 and 2 was smooth. Surely the acceleration, the root cause of G's, would be worked out.

Dima, you're right too. PopSci is usually 25 years ahead of schedule. but I hope I am wrong!

[Matt Molnar]

Dima, you're right too. PopSci is usually 25 years ahead of schedule. but I hope I am wrong!

Make that 24 years...Popular Mechanics actually wrote about this a year ago (and they have a neat video of an engine test). :borat: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technol ... 03874.html (http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4203874.html)

I think it's safe to say we won't be flying to Sydney at Mach 25 anytime soon. No manmade object has ever traveled that fast (not counting satellites), nevermind an actual man. There have to be some pretty big leaps between unmanned missile to manned military jet to commercial passenger vehicle. It will happen in our lifetime, but not soon.