Hypersonic Passenger aircraft concept would fly from LA to Sydney in less than 3 hours
- This hypersonic jet concept could be the future of commercial flying
- It would take passengers from LA to Sydney in less than three hours
- One of the flight perks would be a minute of weightlessness
Published on Jun 26, 2024 at 1:41 PM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 26, 2024 at 1:41 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A hypersonic jet plane concept could make fly people from Los Angeles to Sydney in less than three hours.
For reference, that journey would usually take over 15 hours.
The Paradoxal would shorten the 7,585-mile journey by making a suborbital incursion into space.
You read that right – into space.
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How does the Paradoxal Hypersonic aircraft work?
A Rotary Ramjet engine is used for when the jet is within the atmosphere and converts to a rocket when at a suborbital altitude.
Counterflowing jets of air on the aircraft’s sides reduce heat and drag during the ascent and descent.
The Paradoxal would take off directly from airfields using two Rim-Rotor Ramjet Engines (R4E).
These engines have a high power-to-weight ratio and could be made at relatively low costs.
The air-breathing engines would be powerful enough to lift the jet to 60,000 feet – the average Boeing 747 can only fly to 45,000 feet.
Passengers on board the Paradoxal would be able to see the earth’s curvature via a live video feed.
For a minute, all onboard would get to experience weightlessness before descending.
As of now, this remains a concept and not a reality.
But who knows how far off this is?
Virgin Orbit was already attempting the concept as recently as 2021, so surely it’s only a matter of time.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
