A passenger carrier is being developed by Virgin Galactic

  • Reading Time:2Minutes

Virgin Galactic has begun developing a delta-wing supersonic passenger carrier capable of carrying nineteen passengers, and has entered into an agreement with Rolls-Royce engine manufacturer for this purpose. British billionaire Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic, recently unveiled the interior of a VSS Unity aircraft intended to transport space tourists, but has already made another announcement.

According to a Monday announcement on the company’s website, a new generation of supersonic passenger carriers capable of carrying up to nineteen passengers is being developed. The concept has already been finalized and a non-binding co-operation agreement has been signed with Rolls-Royce for the implementation. The ambitious idea is that the aircraft would have a maximum cruising speed of Mach 3, three times the speed of sound, at an altitude of sixty thousand feet (18,300 meters). The interior of the delta-type could be completely tailored to the needs of the customers. In addition to the challenges facing the project, such as designing a structure that can withstand the high heat generated due to high speeds or reducing fuel consumption to a reasonable level, the outlined regulatory standards must also be met.

The former has once been overcome by Virgin Galactic in the design of the VSS Unity rocket-powered vehicle, some of the solutions can be transferred to the aircraft now outlined, but more specific improvements are needed for long-lasting and reliable operation. The development of a special engine, for example, cannot be solved by the company on its own. With the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Rolls-Royce, which already has experience with, among other things, the Concorde engine, has already been involved in the project. Tom Bell, president and CEO of the British division of the British company, stressed in connection with the announcement: based on this, they are ready to enter the development of a completely new resource with the necessary resources. The goal is to create a completely new engine that can also run on sustainable fuels. In principle, this can make the flight not only “greener”, but also cheaper, which is not a negligible aspect in the eyes of any potential customer when traveling at the speed of energy-intensive sounds.

More articles you may be interested in...

News & Articles Points of interest

Autonomous flight versus human control – Which way is the future?

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

China’s hypersonic leap: A propulsion breakthrough poised to reshape global aerospace

The race to master hypersonic flight travel exceeding five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5 has long captivated the imaginations of engineers and military strategists alike. On March 23, 2025, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) unveiled a development that could tilt this high-stakes contest decisively in favor...>>>...READ MORE

Air taxi News & Articles

New business models – The role of electric air taxis in urban transport

Electric air taxis, or electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, are emerging as a potential solution to urban transport...>>>...READ MORE

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Regent Craft begins testing all-electric seaglider

Drones News & Articles

The hydrogen-powered military drone is launched

Drones News & Articles

Delivery by drones in 2025

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Archer Aviation and Palantir Technologies unite to forge the AI-driven future of aviation

On March 13, 2025, a groundbreaking collaboration was unveiled in Santa Clara, California, as Archer...>>>...READ MORE

more

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Bio-inspired drone technology: pioneering Mars exploration

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Evolution of eVTOLs and electric aircraft in 2025: A comprehensive analysis

The year 2025 marks a pivotal period for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft...>>>...READ MORE

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Joby and Virgin Atlantic announce groundbreaking partnership

News & Articles Points of interest

Artificial intelligence outperforms human pilots in simulated air combat

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming military technology, with significant advancements in autonomous combat systems...>>>...READ MORE

more

Flying Cars News & Articles

Will we have flying cars before fully self-driving cars ?

The race to bring science fiction to life is heating up but it might not be self-driving cars that reach the finish line first. While the dream of autonomous vehicles navigating our roads has faced significant technological and regulatory hurdles, another futuristic concept flying cars appears to be gaining ground....>>>...READ MORE