A new hypersonic aircraft, Invictus, is poised to revolutionize long-haul travel by potentially flying from London to Sydney in just three hours. The plane, capable of reaching five times the speed of sound, is about to undergo testing in the UK. It takes off horizontally like conventional aircraft but then ascends to the edge of the atmosphere to achieve its remarkable speed.
Testing and Commercial Viability
Initially, Invictus will not carry passengers, but its development could pave the way for hypersonic commercial flights. Gordon Stevenson, a director of Spaceport Machrihanish, which is competing to launch the first flights, 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?”
However, an aviation specialist told Nine news that while such flights are “technically plausible,” they are not expected to be available to commercial customers anytime soon. Dr. Tony Stanton, Consultant Director at Strategic Air, emphasized the gap between testing and commercial service: “There is a very large difference between demonstrating a hypersonic test aircraft and operating a safe, reliable, commercially viable passenger service between London and Sydney.”
Technical Challenges
Stanton highlighted the extreme conditions the aircraft must endure: “The aircraft has to deal with extreme heating, very high structural and propulsion loads, complex fuel and thermal management issues, and demanding flight safety requirements.” These challenges mean extensive checks are needed before passenger flights can be deemed safe.
Costs are expected to be prohibitive, and passenger capacity would be very limited. As a result, the planes are unlikely to operate as normal commercial flights but could serve as business jets or for government and high-end premium travel.
Near-Term Alternative
While the three-hour journey remains a long-term goal, a shorter one-leg flight connecting London to Sydney is expected to launch soon. Estimated to take up to 22 hours, this “game-changing new route” will be the longest commercial flight in the world, with tickets anticipated to go on sale from February next year.
