The Hermeus Corporation is proposing its own supersonic passenger entry. The Atlanta-based startup is eyeing a project which will bring to market a Mach 5-capable, near-hypersonic, VIP/business passenger-minded, long-haul platform before the end of the next decade. Promised high-speed performance would indicate a run from New York City to Paris covering just 90 minutes of flying time. Comparatively, conventional air carriers can manage this trans-Atlantic route in about seven hours.
In its current design form, the proposed aircraft is being estimated with a cruising speed of 3,300 miles-per-hour and a range out to 4,600 miles. Internally, the aircraft is set to carry around twenty passengers in comfort across at just under hypersonic speeds (up to Mach 5). The proposed air-breathing propulsion scheme is set to feature a combination turbojet/turbofan and ramjet/scramjet pairing.
The published image of this proposed aircraft sports a sleek design look with pointed nose section, flat underside and streamlined upper sections. The propulsion scheme is concentrated at the aft ventral section of the fuselage. The wing mainplanes are blended elegantly into the body of the aircraft and sport downward-canted tips. The tail unit is comprised of twin vertical tailplanes seated above the propulsion arrangement. A tricycle undercarriage is featured with each leg sporting two wheels for ground-running, take-off, and landing actions. Because of the project's infancy, it is expected that the aircraft's form will change significantly should the program come to fruition.
For its ambitious venture, the company has secured seed funding from Khosla Ventures. Hermeus currently counts Khosla Ventures, ANSYS, and Pointwise as part of its project partners. Hermeus is made up of former members of Generation Orbit which has worked extensively on the X-60A rocket-powered testbed vehicle. Its board is stocked with industry veterans formerly tied to companies like defense powerhouse Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin.
This article will be updated as new information allows. Some values found on this page are estimates on the part of the author.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓BizJet
Used in roles serving the business aviation market, primarily VIP and regional travel.
Length
213.3 ft (65.00 m)
Width/Span
83.7 ft (25.50 m)
Height
37.7 ft (11.50 m)
Empty Wgt
176,370 lb (80,000 kg)
MTOW
407,855 lb (185,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+231,485 lb (+105,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hermeus Mach 5 production variant)
Installed:
Unknown: mix of air-breathing turbojet/turbofan and ramjet/scramjet engine pairing.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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United States (possible)
