Commercial supersonic flights aren’t exactly new anymore, especially since the sudden shutdown of Concorde in 2003. However, in about a decade, Swiss startup Destinus aims to bring this mode of travel back on the market. And it is with his Destinus S model, an aircraft that runs on liquid hydrogen, that he intends to restart the economy of supersonic aircraft.
Five times faster than sound
In order to keep its commitments regarding the duration of transatlantic and transcontinental flights, Destinus promises that its Destiny S capable of flying up to a crazy speed of Mach 5, or nearly 5,300 km/h.
That’s five times faster than sound. This is more than twice as fast as Concorde which was rated at Mach 2, or slightly more.
This is how the Destinus S promises to travel from Paris to New York in a record time: 1h30. For comparison, the famous Concorde crossed the Atlantic between the French capital and the Big Apple in 3h30. Today is the time it takes to make a TGV journey between Paris and Marseille.
Destinus S, futuristic plane
They are not yet on airport tarmacs around the world, but in 10 years, Destinus aims to place several of them. And for the passengers it takes or those who see it from afar, the Destinus S will not go unnoticed.
In fact, if we base ourselves on the pictures available on the Destinus website, the plane will be like no other. 40 meters long with a wingspan of 18 meters, there will be no windows for passengers. Looking like a drone, it will be shaped like a small spaceship.
To make these trips at Mach 5, the Destinus S will be able to overcome a certain altitude limit. So, between Paris and New York, the supersonic plane flies at an altitude of almost 33 km, but for a very short time. And unlike its predecessors or competitors, the Destinus S will not use kerosene to be fueled.
No, this supersonic plane will use liquid hydrogen, which is said to be much less polluting.
25 passengers maximum
You will understand that with the size of the machine, the Destinus S will not be able to accommodate many people on board. And it is on the website of the initiator, we indicate the number of passengers 25 maximum. It is not said whether this also includes crew members.
Suffice it to say, and it is no secret, that the prices for such a crossing may be very high. However, unlike the Concorde, the Destinus S will be able to make intercontinental flights via Earth.
In fact, according to what the Destinus website suggests, the supersonic plane will not fly over landbut it will be able to make quick passages over water before reaching its destination.
Destinus S, is there a pilot on the plane?
Looking like a drone, the Destinus S looks just like another model from the brand: the Destiny D. However, the latter is a supersonic drone piloted by artificial intelligence. In other words, there is no human pilot.
And if we look at the other machines from the aerospace company founded in 2021, none of them have a cockpit. But that’s not all, all other devices, except for the Destinus S, are intended to be used for military or spy purposes.
Just going to the Destinus S page, there is no mention, unlike other tools, of using AI in the future to pilot it. However, there is also no mention of any pilot. The mystery is still on this subject at the moment.
In about ten years, if the tests are conclusive as to its ability to achieve its goals while maintaining the safety of passengers and the public, then the Destinus S should have a place on the tarmacs of the world’s largest airports.
Source: La Dépêche / Destinus
2024-08-19 21:00:00
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