The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing a hypersonic aircraft called Invictus that could reduce flight time from London to Sydney to just three hours, roughly a tenth of the current 22 to 27-hour journey. The plane would travel more than five times the speed of sound, flying to the edge of the atmosphere at around 80,000 feet before jetting across the globe.
Design and Development Timeline
The Invictus is still in its design stage, with the initial phase expected to be completed this year. Testing of smaller-scale engines is scheduled for 2027, with further trials later this decade. The first flight is estimated to take place by 2034 at a slower speed, followed by full-speed testing by 2036. The aircraft would be the first supersonic commercial aircraft since Concorde, which was retired in 2003. Concorde could reach Sydney in 17 hours but required multiple refueling stops.
Primary Mission and Future Potential
Initially, the hypersonic aircraft will be used to launch satellites into space. If successful, the technology could be adapted for rapid international travel. Gordon Stevenson, a director of aerospace testing site Spaceport Machrihanish, said: 'You could be in Sydney, Australia in three hours. It depends on the speed at which it flies and the success of the technology, but it would be amazing wouldn’t it?' James Cornish, space business development manager at Frazer-Nash, the prime contractor for Invictus, said: 'While it is not a passenger aircraft, the technologies it proves could ultimately underpin much faster long-haul travel in future civil platforms.'
