Featured in the accompanying images is the Darkstar aircraft, meticulously crafted by Lockheed Martin for the movie Top Gun: Maverick. Without giving away any plot details, it’s worth mentioning that Tom Cruise’s character showcases the plane’s incredible capabilities by reaching Mach 10 (12,348 km/h) in the opening scenes. Interestingly, Venus Aerospace aspires to construct a passenger airliner that can achieve nearly the same astonishing speed.
Here’s What We Know
Boom Supersonic is anticipated to reach a velocity of Mach 1.7 (2099.16 km/h), surpassing the top speed of the Concorde at Mach 2 (2469.6 km/h). However, the title for the fastest aircraft in history belongs to the Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird, which soared at an astounding Mach 3.2 (3951.36 km/h).
Venus Aerospace has set a formidable objective of designing an airliner with the ability to reach speeds of Mach 9 (11,113.2 km/h). This remarkable flight will take place at an altitude of 50 km, which is halfway to the boundary of space (100 km). The aircraft will ascend to this altitude within a mere 10 minutes, powered by a rocket engine.
Equipped to accommodate up to 12 passengers, Venus Aerospace’s innovative aircraft will run on a combination of Jet-A and hydrogen peroxide. The company envisions operating four flights daily, showcasing the immense potential of their cutting-edge technology. Notably, experts have successfully demonstrated the detonation of the Jet-A and hydrogen peroxide mixture, further validating the project’s viability.
Venus Aerospace has embarked on the development of a revolutionary aircraft utilizing a rotary detonation engine. To optimize their timeline, the company has initiated drone testing, aiding in the determination of the new aircraft’s design.
Thus far, Venus Aerospace has successfully produced and tested a 1.5-meter long drone. By the end of the year, their objective is to finalize the development of a supersonic 2.4-meter drone. The first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a rotary detonation engine is scheduled for completion in 2024, boasting an impressive speed capability of Mach 3 (3,704.4 km/h).
