Project Description:
Have you ever wished you didn’t have to deal with long flight times when traveling across the country or internationally? Have you ever fancied zipping around the globe at several times the speed of sound while reaching the edge of space? If either of these questions is a yes, you will be interested in our high-speed jet airliner concept.
The overall goal of supersonic and hypersonic passenger aircraft is to significantly reduce travel time for transoceanic flights. These forms of aircraft come with unique challenges: high costs, limited capabilities of jet engine turbomachinery, high aerodynamic heating, high fuel consumption, limited fuselage space, noise regulations relating to sonic booms, etc. The world has yet to come up with the sustainable technology and business model for high-speed transport, and not for a lack of trying. The famous Concorde and its lesser-known Soviet cousin, the TU-144, were both put into service in the late 1970’s. However, due to high ticket prices, noise regulations, and several accidents, the last Concorde flight was in 2003 and no commercial flights faster than the speed of sound have happened since.
Despite these challenges, aviation technology has matured and advanced and a new wave of interest in supersonic and hypersonic aircraft has emerged. Startups such as Boom Supersonic, Hermeus, and Venus Aerospace are once again considering aircraft that can succeed in providing safe, sustainable, and comfortable high-speed passenger flights. It is in this environment that we are taking inspiration from to design our own supersonic aircraft and mission profile. Our concept, the Supersonic Terp Transport (STT), will provide transatlantic and transpacific intercontinental service to 30 passengers and cruises at Mach 3.6 at an altitude of 80,000 ft.
