German aerospace company Lilium aims to revolutionize air travel with its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet, targeting zero emissions and a meaningful reduction in CO2 emissions. With a successful prototype test in 2022, the company plans to enter service by 2026 and has attracted investment from Tencent and Earlybird Venture Capital. Priced at $9 million for a premium market jet and $7 million for a six-seater version, Lilium differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on regional flights and utilizing jet technology for longer range.
Stratolaunch successfully conducted the first powered test flight of a new unmanned hypersonic research craft, the Talon-A-1, off the coast of California. The vehicle reached high supersonic speeds approaching Mach 5 and collected valuable data, marking a major milestone in the development of privately funded, reusable hypersonic test capability. The massive carrier aircraft, Roc, released the Talon, which was powered by a liquid-fuel rocket engine and ended its flight with a controlled descent into the ocean. Stratolaunch aims to develop a reusable version capable of landing on a runway for future use in hypersonic research.
Private company Stratolaunch successfully tested its Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, achieving safe air-launch release, engine ignition, sustained climb in altitude, and a controlled water landing off the coast of California. The company aims to complete the vehicle's development this year and has begun work on two newer models, as defense contractors worldwide focus on hypersonic weapons and defense systems.
Stratolaunch successfully conducted the first powered flight of its Talon vehicle, reaching "high supersonic" speeds in an uncrewed test. The vehicle, TA-1, achieved its major test objectives, including release from the Roc aircraft, ignition of its engine, sustained acceleration, and controlled climb through high supersonic speeds before decelerating and gliding to an ocean splashdown. The company's next vehicle, TA-2, a reusable hypersonic vehicle, is scheduled for flight tests in the second half of the year. Stratolaunch is also modifying a Boeing 747 acquired last year to serve as a second air-launch platform.
NASA and Lockheed Martin have unveiled the X-59, a "quiet" supersonic aircraft designed to reduce the loud sonic booms of traditional supersonic flights to a gentle "thump." The 30-meter-long aircraft, part of NASA's Quesst mission, features a thin, tapered nose to break up shock waves and minimize noise. If successful, this technology could lead to a reconsideration of the ban on supersonic flights over land, potentially cutting travel time in half for commercial flights.
The US Air Force has selected aerospace startup JetZero to build a prototype Blended-Wing Body (BWB) aircraft, which aims to test and demonstrate new technologies. The BWB design, departing from traditional tube-and-wing aircraft, is expected to reduce drag by 30% and provide additional lift, potentially leading to extended range, increased payload delivery efficiencies, and reduced fuel consumption. The project, led by the Air Force Operational Energy Office, has the potential to significantly reduce fuel demand and carbon emissions. The BWB concept is applicable to theater lift and air refueling, which collectively account for 60% of the Air Force's annual fuel consumption. The technology is also expected to have commercial applications, offering benefits to passenger and air freight companies by increasing interior space and decreasing operational fuel costs.
