Skip to main content

It’s been over 20 years since the last Concorde carried passengers across the Atlantic Ocean at near science-fiction speeds. However, the concept of fast commercial air travel has re-entered the equation with companies like Venus Aerospace and its Stargazer M400 hypersonic aircraft. 

Venus Aerospace is testing the technology that may take passengers from London to New York City in just one hour.

Have you ever taken a short flight? Like New York City to Philadelphia? Or Los Angeles to Las Vegas? It feels as though you just reached cruising altitude when the pilot announces your descent. Still, it makes sense; NYC to Philadelphia is less than 100 miles from runway to runway.

That said, getting passengers from London to NYC is a bit more taxing on a commercial airplane like an Airbus A350-1000. While the long-extinct supersonic Concorde could make the crossing in around three hours, a more conventional airframe takes closer to eight hours. Then you have the prospect of a hypersonic aircraft beating the Concorde’s impressive sprint.

Houston-based Venus Aerospace is currently testing the technology that will make passenger flights on a hypersonic aircraft a reality. According to the firm, its Stargazer M400 is “Earth’s first hypersonic, reusable aircraft.” Staggeringly, Venus Aerospace asserts that the Ramjet-powered Stargazer M400 will be able to cruise at Mach 4 (around 3,000 MPH). Just to give you some perspective, the average cruising speed for an Airbus A330 is around 530 MPH.

However, Venus Aerospace says the new hypersonic aircraft may max out at around Mach 9 (roughly 6,850 MPH). The Stargazer M400 will also push boundaries in terms of cruising altitude. The average cruising altitude for commercial flights is around 35,000 feet, depending on a multitude of factors. Venus Aerospace claims the Stargazer M400, however, will cruise at an eye-watering 110,000 feet. The result? A flight on a Stargazer M400 may take passengers from London to NYC in just one hour.

Best in News
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).