Forget that long slog over to Australia and New Zealand – new hypersonic planes could soon put an end to the 24-hour journey time.
According to the Daily Mail, the super-fast aircraft – which fly even faster than Concorde – are currently on trial in the outback of Australia.
So fast are the planes that, if they are put into use at some point in the future, travellers could be leaving London and arriving in New York just under one hour later.
However, before you get too excited, the new high-speed planes – which are being developed by Australian defence scientists and the US air force – will likely not be in operation for another 40 years.
Australian defence personnel minister, Greg Combet, told the newspaper, “Hypersonic flight has the potential to revolutionise global air travel and provide cost-effective access to space.”
The new planes – which would totally change the face of global travel – would use conventional jet engines during take-off.
Once in the air, two rocket engines would then activate, alongside a pair of ‘ramjets’ – other engines – designed for high-speed travel.
