Hypersonic Mach 5 Aircraft Engine Passes Crucial Heat Exchanger Test
Reaction Engines successfully tests a revolutionary precooler that enables hypersonic flight, potentially cutting London to New York travel time to just two hours. The breakthrough technology also promises major improvements for existing jet engines and industrial applications.
Reaction Engines unveils a revolutionary propulsion system that makes hypersonic passenger travel a realistic possibility. By flying at Mach 5, an aircraft completes the journey from London to New York in approximately two hours, which is more than twice as fast as the Concorde. This massive leap in speed relies on a unique engine design that prevents meltdown by instantly cooling incoming air.
The core of this breakthrough is a lightweight precooler heat exchanger that drops air temperature to minus 150 degrees centigrade in a fraction of a second. This component allows the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) to breathe air at incredible atmospheric speeds before switching to rocket mode to reach orbit. The company recently passes a major milestone by successfully testing this precooler at Colorado Air and Space Port under extreme thermal conditions.
The implications of this technology extend far beyond hypersonic passenger flights and space exploration. The precooler significantly enhances the performance of existing jet engine technology and offers valuable applications in the automotive, energy, and industrial sectors. Backed by major players like Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and government agencies, Reaction Engines stands at the forefront of a rapidly expanding aerospace boom.