Posted on 07/11/2025 8:24:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
A new Chinese hypersonic engine could cut long-haul flights to under an hour, pushing aircraft to unprecedented speeds. This breakthrough in propulsion technology might reshape global travel and military strategy.
China Unveils an Engine Capable of an Astonishing 20,000 KM/H, That Can Circle the Globe in Just 2 Hours | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel
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A new hypersonic engine developed in China could revolutionize air travel by reducing long-haul flight times to mere minutes. Capable of reaching Mach 16—approximately 20,000 km/h (12,250 mph)—this propulsion system represents a significant leap in aerospace engineering.
Developed at the Beijing Power Machinery Institute, this breakthrough has been documented in the Journal of Propulsion Technology. Researchers claim the engine is more fuel-efficient and stable than previous hypersonic designs, overcoming some of the major challenges that have long hindered this technology.
A Major Leap Beyond Supersonic Travel
For decades, supersonic aircraft like Concorde pushed the boundaries of speed, but their efficiency and fuel consumption issues limited their success. China’s latest development moves beyond Mach 2 travel, bringing hypersonic flight closer to reality.
The engine operates at 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) above Earth’s surface, using a dual-mode detonation process. At speeds up to Mach 7, it functions through a rotary detonation system, where a continuous shockwave combusts fuel more efficiently than traditional jet engines. Once it exceeds Mach 7, it shifts into oblique detonation mode, ensuring sustained high-speed performance with greater stability.
According to researchers, this approach could achieve up to 80% energy conversion efficiency, far exceeding the 20–30% efficiency of conventional engines. Addressing fuel consumption and stability challenges, this technology moves one step closer to practical hypersonic aviation.
The engine was developed at the Beijing Power Machinery Institute. Image Scmp
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A Revolution in Global Transportation
If successfully integrated into commercial aircraft, hypersonic propulsion could drastically reduce flight times. A journey from Paris to New York could take less than an hour, and a London-to-Sydney trip could be completed in 90 minutes instead of the usual 22 hours.
The potential extends beyond passenger travel—cargo transport at these speeds could enable near-instantaneous global deliveries, reshaping supply chains and international trade.
The ability to transport goods across vast distances in minutes would eliminate logistical bottlenecks, benefiting industries that depend on rapid shipments, such as medical supply chains and high-value manufacturing.
The engine operates in two modes. Image: Eurasian Times
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Military and Defense Implications
The military applications of hypersonic propulsion are equally significant. Aircraft and missiles traveling at Mach 16 would be nearly impossible to intercept with current air defense systems, raising concerns about strategic deterrence and national security.
Unlike conventional fighter jets or ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles move so quickly that traditional radar tracking and interception technologies may become obsolete.
China’s advancement in this field is expected to intensify competition among global superpowers. The United States, Russia, and Europe are already investing heavily in hypersonic research, but China’s breakthrough may accelerate the race for high-speed military dominance.
The ability to evade detection and strike with unprecedented speed could fundamentally change the nature of warfare, forcing nations to rethink their defense strategies.
Engineering Challenges and Future Developments
Despite its potential, significant engineering challenges must be resolved before hypersonic travel becomes a practical reality. Extreme heat and pressure at Mach 16 require advanced thermal protection systems to prevent aircraft from breaking apart.
Materials capable of withstanding these conditions must be developed, and cooling mechanisms must be perfected to ensure structural integrity during flight.
Another major hurdle is stability and control. Previous detonation engines have struggled with shockwave management, making them difficult to operate consistently. Researchers must refine the technology further to ensure that hypersonic engines remain stable across various speed ranges.
Economic feasibility is also a key concern. Although the engine is theoretically more fuel-efficient than traditional propulsion systems, developing cost-effective aircraft that can safely operate at these speeds remains a significant challenge. If the technology proves too expensive, commercial adoption could be delayed for decades.
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AVIATION Ping!.........................
YAWN ,LOL
From rice farming to hypersonic propulsion. How did the Chicoms do that?
How many millions of gallons of fuel per second ? LOL
20,000 km/hr = 12,427.4 mph = Mach 16
They are smart people who know how to do advanced math.
Detonation hypersonic engine - like the one we were flight testing a couple decades ago?
China unveils a LOT of stuff, but... how about flying one?
I look at all the stolen tech, liners, flaps and seals on the nozzle. Chem milled titanium engine casing. Like the poster above; where did they get this tech?
How high must it travel to avert burning up due to atmospheric heat?
Will passengers have to get a pre-flight physical before pulling 9 G’s
Per Google:
At Mach 7, the G-forces experienced by an object can be up to 9 G1. Fighter pilots can withstand up to about 9 G for a second or two, but sustained G-forces of even 6 G would be fatal2. Astronauts endure around 3 G on lift-off2.
But first, it’ll crash into a Chinese school a bunch of times.
at that speed the friction generated temperature would be about 15000K
Hypersonic vehicles like reentry capsules or experimental aircraft (e.g. NASA’s X-43) experience surface temps of 1,500–3,000 K.
A commercial aircraft (if it existed at this speed) would likely use ablative shielding or regenerative cooling to keep skin temps in the 1,000–2,500 K range.
Those temps are still above Aluminium melting temp of ~933K
Not sure what the airframe would be made of. It would melt to slag from the friction.
Like the Concorde that went before it, it will be the elite’s toy. It won’t be practical for the same reasons the Concorde was scrapped.
From the end of the article:
Despite its potential, significant engineering challenges must be resolved before hypersonic travel becomes a practical reality.Extreme heat and pressure at Mach 16 require advanced thermal protection systems to prevent aircraft from breaking apart.
Materials capable of withstanding these conditions must be developed,
and cooling mechanisms must be perfected to ensure structural integrity during flight.
Another major hurdle is stability and control. Researchers must refine the technology further to ensure that hypersonic engines remain stable across various speed ranges.
developing cost-effective aircraft that can safely operate at these speeds remains a significant challenge.
If the technology proves too expensive, commercial adoption could be delayed for decades.
That temp for friction was assuming standard international flight altitudes
Bill Clinton.
That is 3.4 miles per second. At 4.7 miles per second you are moving fast enough for low Earth orbit.
Tungsten.
We aren’t using it for lightbulbs any more................
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