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Supersonic plane “Son of Concorde” exceeds the speed of sound at a terrifying altitude less than 2 minutes after takeoff

Umito November 19, 2024

A COMMERCIAL aircraft has reached supersonic speeds for the first time since Concorde, the company behind the feat has claimed.

Dawn Aerospace says its jet, the MK-11 Aurora, broke the sound barrier at a speed of Mach 1.1 (844 mph) during a test flight on November 12.

The unmanned supersonic aircraft climbed to an altitude of 82,500 feet (15.6 miles) in just 118.6 seconds.Credit: Dawn Aerospace

Dawn plans to operate the jet up to breathtaking speeds of Mach 3.5 (2,685 mph)Credit: Dawn Aerospace

He also broke the record for highest altitude reached from New Zealand and fastest climb to 66,000 feet (20 km).Credit: Dawn Aerospace

The unmanned supersonic aircraft climbed to an altitude of 82,500 feet (15.6 miles) in just 118.6 seconds.

This speed is 4.2 seconds faster than that achieved by a specially modified 5-15 in the 1970s.

According to the company, the MK-11 Aurora is now the first supersonic aircraft designed and built in New Zealand.

He also broke the record for highest altitude reached from New Zealand and fastest climb to 66,000 feet (20 km).

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Dawn plans to operate the jet up to breathtaking speeds of Mach 3.5 (2,685 mph).

To achieve such speeds, the MK-11 Aurora would have to fly to the edge of space, reaching an altitude of 327,360 feet (62 miles).

Once this goal is achieved, the jet would be used for microgravity research, atmospheric science, Earth observation and high-speed flight testing.

“This achievement highlights the immense potential for rocket-powered aircraft to achieve performance never before seen,” Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace, said in a statement.

“With Flight Test 57, we have eliminated the last major technical risk of the Aurora program: the dynamics of the vehicle in transonic mode.

“We have now confirmed that the Aurora is the highest rate of climb vehicle ever built.

“This milestone paves the way for the Aurora to become the tallest and fastest aircraft in the world and paves the way for the first operational hypersonic aircraft, redefining what is possible in aviation.”

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This marks a new dawn for the era of supersonic travel, following Concorde’s retirement in 2003.

Commercial supersonic flights over land have been banned in the United States for more than 50 years, and for about 20 years in the United Kingdom, due to the noise from sonic booms.

In the United Kingdom, the planes were banned because they were deemed too noisy and extremely expensive to operate.

With limited flight availability, fares were often too high for most customers.

Although a number of startups are trying to put such supersonic planes back in the skies, regulators are set to revisit the bans.