Beijing to New York in 2 Hours? China's Hypersonic Plane Could be Flying as Soon as 2035

Have you ever been on a flight from Cleveland to Atlanta that lasted two hours? How about from China to Atlanta in two hours? That's what engineers in China's Fujian Province are looking to make this a possibility in the future with a revolutionary new jet.

(Much) Faster Than The Speed Of Sound

China is moving forward with building a new hypersonic passenger jet, codenamed "Nanqiang No. 1", that could fly to anywhere in the world in two hours or less.

A small prototype of the jet recently passed flight tests, and now a full-sized prototype has begun. This new prototype is expected to be finished and conduct test flights some time in the next year.

"Nanqiang" is reported to have the capabilities to achieve Mach 6, which is noticeably faster than the Concorde, which was known for being the world's fastest passenger jet for decades.

This Mach 6 speed is said to be possible with a combination of engines built into one, specifically in the turbofan, rocket, and ramjet varieties. China has dubbed these new engines "MUTTER" engines, which stand for "Multi-ducted twin-turbine ejector-ramjet".

Lead project scientist Yin Zeyong has described the project as a "breakthrough in travel and technology" and he claims the plan can "change human civilization".

In terms of how the jet will be able to slow down during flights, Zeyong has yet to reveal how "Nanqiang" will be able to achieve this.

"Nanqiang" has been in the works since 2019, with early versions of the prototype reaching speeds only close to Mach 1 (767 mph).

The actual jet is said to not be completed until around 2035. The final version of the aircraft is slated to seat ten passengers.

About The Legendary Concorde

First built in early 1969, the Concorde had a max speed of 1,354 mph, achieving Mach 2, a speed that's twice the speed of sound, making it a rare feat to be able to photograph the plane itself mid-flight.

In comparison with China's claims of two-hour global flights, British Airways owns a world record for the fastest transatlantic crossing involving a flight from Heathrow International Airport in London to JFK International Airport in New York. This Concorde flight on February 7, 1996 lasted two hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. A typical commercial flight from London to New York takes about eight hours.

The Concorde ceased production in 2003, and of the 20 that were made, none of them are active today, with most being preserved and on display.

NASA is also developing what it dubs the "Son of Concorde", which is the X-59. While not a hypersonic jet, it's said to be a more efficient and quieter supersonic jet. The X-59 has passed safety inspections back in May, with its first flight yet to be scheduled.

With promising developments from China, you can expect other companies to join the race to be the first to debut a hypersonic jet by 2035.

But what are your thoughts? Would you travel on a jet that could reach Mach 6? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!