How hypersonic travel could shrink a 6-hour NY to LA flight to 15 minutesThe interesting engineering website discusses future hypersonic travel technology, which could potentially allow a flight from New York to Los Angeles in about 15 minutes.
Hypersonic means traveling at speeds of at least Mach 5 — five times the speed of sound. Some proposed aircraft concepts aim to reach Mach 10 or higher.
The technology would rely on advanced propulsion systems such as:
Scramjet engines
Ramjet engines
Oblique detonation engines
These engines are designed to operate at extremely high speeds and altitudes.
However, there are major challenges:
Extreme heat generated during flight
Sonic booms
Massive fuel and energy requirements
Passenger safety concerns
Very high operating costs
Because of these issues, hypersonic passenger travel is still mostly in the research and experimental stage and is not yet ready for commercial airline use.
Some experts believe the technology could become possible in the future, while others argue it may remain too expensive and technically difficult for widespread public travel.
