Virgin Galactic has finally revealed the first conceptual images of the supersonic jet they are planning to build that will fundamentally change the way we travel by air.
Revealing Conceptual Image of Supersonic Jet
In a Daily Mail report, the company has shared new information about the jet, saying it should be able to shuttle 19 passengers at a time with the speed of Mach 3, which is as fast as three times the speed of sound.
Additionally, the jet should be able to fly at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet, double the altitude of a common commercial plane.
The company has also announced its partnership with Rolls Royce to design and develop the supersonic jet's engine propulsion technology to ensure smooth flights at great distances.
When it comes to the design, the Virgin Galactic supersonic jet has a design unlike any other commercial plane as it looks more like modern fighter jets, complete with the triangular "delta wing," and looking straight out of science fiction movies.
Inside the jet, there will be customized cabins for each of the passengers that will address all of their needs during the flight and business to first-class seating arrangements.
The company is yet to announce the price for the seats, but they're already offering a spot on their tourist spaceplane for $250,000, which would essentially bring tourists to space, much like SpaceX's plan in the future.
Working With Rolls Royce and the FAA
"We are excited to complete the Mission Concept Review and unveil this initial design concept of a high-speed aircraft, which we envision as blending safe and reliable commercial travel with an unrivaled customer experience," said George Whitesides, the chief space officer of Virgin Galactic.
"We are pleased to collaborate with the innovative team at Rolls-Royce as we strive to develop sustainable, cutting-edge propulsion systems for the aircraft," Whitesides further said.
The Virgin Galactic officer also announced that they are working with the FAA to ensure that their designs have a "practical impact."
Furthermore, the company disclosed that they had made some progress with the supersonic jet.
There isn't much information regarding the company's progress with the jet, but the team is preparing for the next phase of the jet's design, which is defining the specific configurations and architectures as well as determining what materials they will use to build the jet.
They are also working on fixing several issues, such as noise, thermal management, emissions, maintenance, and economics for commercial high-speed flights.
Delaying SpaceShipTwo Commercial Flights
In other news, the company is delaying the beginning of commercial flights for its SpaceShipTwo, a suborbital vehicle.
According to SpaceNews, the company will be delaying the flights in the first quarter of 2021, but they are expecting to conduct a couple more test flights, with both being powered flights, for its SpaceShipTwo from New Mexico at the Spaceport America.
The company has also announced its plans to sell the additional stock so they could raise money.
Read Also: Elon Musk Admits He Prayed for the Success of the SpaceX ISS Mission in an Emotional Speech
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Written by: Nhx Tingson
