An experimental scramjet engine was successfully tested this week in outback Australia. The scramjet, which is a joint development between Australian and US Defence forces reached speeds of 11,000 km/h or ten times the speed of sound! (Mach 10) during it’s 12 minute flight.

A scramjet requires supersonic airflow through the engine, to achieve this a conventional rocket was used to boost the vehicle to supersonic speeds allowing the scramjet to then take over.

Scientist believe that a hypersonic (above Mach 5) airplane could be a reality in the near future. If that’s the case, the travel time between New York and Paris could be under an hour!

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Filed under: science, technology