MEXICO CITY, August 9 (EL UNIVERSAL) .- The aerospace company dedicated to the manufacture of advanced air and space transportation, Virgin Galactic, announced on August 3 the design for the construction of the high-speed supersonic commercial airplane model in collaboration with the Rolls-Royce company, with high-level technology for the propulsion of engines.
Rolls-Royce already has a history of high-speed aircraft, such as the successful Concorde Mach 2 aircraft, which stopped operating in 2003 after 27 years of service. If we consider that Mach is the speed of sound, and that it is equivalent to 1,234.8 km / hour, the Concorde, being Mach 2, doubled its speed. Now with this new proposal it is expected to improve quality and reach Mach 3.
But to triple the speed of sound, the Mach 3 will have a reduction in passengers (the Concorde had capacity for almost 130 passengers). The altitude of this supersonic aircraft will reach a figure higher than 60,000 feet (18,288 km) and could reduce an eight-hour flight to approximately one hour and 30 minutes, that is, almost 5 times its time. In other words, an hour of flight is reduced to almost 12 minutes.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with the innovative team at Rolls-Royce as we strive to develop cutting-edge and sustainable propulsion systems for aircraft. We have come a long way so far, and we look forward to opening a new frontier in high-speed travel,” commented George Whitesides , Virgin Galactic space director.
This first part of the project was made possible by being in the Mission Concept Review (MCR) program and had the authorization of the Center for Emerging Concepts and Innovations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The above is only the first stage of the supersonic aircraft, many tests are still required before making the official launch. The next step will be to define the architecture and configuration of the aircraft system as well as the materials that will be used for the total manufacture of the model.
Another improvement that will be made, which was not made with the Concorde and which will take time, is the reduction of noise from the engines and thermal management, so traveling on this plane will be a high cost for passengers interested in the fast, safe trips with few travelers.
It is also important to mention that the creation of this project will be verified to comply with safety and environmental regulations. The Rolls-Royce company has a goal for 2030 to emit zero carbon emissions in its operations, while the technologies used by Virgin Galactic are patented and reusable.
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