British engineers are developing a hypersonic space plane named the Invictus jet, capable of traveling at more than 3,800 mph. This aircraft could reduce the flight time from London to Sydney to just three hours, compared to the current 21-hour journey.
The Invictus jet is being built with involvement from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency, aiming to revive high-speed air travel after the Concorde was retired in 2003. The plane will fly at five times the speed of sound and may reach the outermost rim of Earth's atmosphere at around 80,000 feet.
Potential Test Flight Locations
Several airspaces across the UK are competing to host the first test flight. Unlike traditional rocket launches, the Invictus will take off from a standard airport runway. Spaceport Machrihanish in Scotland and Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay are leading contenders. The former RAF base at Machrihanish previously tested the original Concorde and the B-2 stealth bomber, and is reportedly favored by celebrities like Paul McCartney.
Gordon Stevenson, director of Spaceport Machrihanish, highlighted the site's remoteness as an advantage: Remoteness is a huge plus when you're test-flying aeroplanes and testing rocket engines, and we're pretty much at the end of the road in Kintyre.
Dual-Use Potential
Stevenson noted that the Invictus jet will likely have dual-use applications. Satellite delivery would be one of the obvious uses,
he said, adding that people have talked about passenger flights ultimately.
He emphasized the transformative potential: You could be in Sydney, Australia in three hours. It depends on the speed at which it flies and the success of the technology, but it would be amazing, wouldn't it?
The Invictus jet will not carry passengers initially. If the design proves successful, it could pave the way for high-speed cross-continental travel. The first designs are expected to be completed this year, with hypersonic speeds anticipated by 2036.
