Plans for a new hypersonic aircraft, dubbed the 'new Concorde', could reduce travel time from London to Australia to just three hours, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). The Invictus aircraft is designed to travel at five times the speed of sound, reaching speeds of approximately 3,800 mph, significantly faster than the original Concorde which flew at 1,350 mph.
Hypersonic speed and altitude
The Invictus will fly at around 80,000 feet, nearly twice the altitude of standard commercial planes, which typically cruise between 30,000 and 42,000 feet. This hypersonic capability means it is not merely supersonic but a step beyond, cutting travel time from the current 21 to 33 hours for a flight to Australia down to just three hours.
Project timeline and cost
The design phase of the Invictus project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with an estimated cost of €7 million (£6,034,350). The ESA is currently working towards a test flight that will not carry commercial passengers. If successful, commercial flights could begin as early as 2034, according to the agency.
Potential dual use and space access
Gordon Stevenson, a director of Spaceport Machrihanish, told The Telegraph: 'Like most aerospace technologies, it will probably have dual use. Satellite delivery would be one of the obvious uses, and people have talked about passenger flights ultimately. You could be in Sydney, Australia in three hours. It depends on the speed at which it flies and the success of the technology, but it would be amazing wouldn't it?'
Tommaso Ghidini, the ESA's mechanical department head, previously stated: 'Hypersonic flight is not just the next frontier of aerospace — it's the gateway to a new paradigm of mobility, defence, and space access. With Invictus, Europe is seizing the opportunity to lead in technologies that will define how we move across the planet and reach beyond it.'
Comparison with current projects
In contrast, Qantas is developing Project Sunrise, which aims to operate the longest flight in the world from London to Sydney in 22 hours, with a planned launch in 2027. While significantly shorter than current flights, the Invictus would cut that time by an additional 19 hours. The original Concorde, which first flew commercially in 1976, could cross the Atlantic from London to New York in about three and a half hours. The fastest such flight took 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. Concorde also expanded slightly in flight due to airframe heating, by between six and 10 inches.
Fun facts about Concorde
- In 1986, a British Airways Concorde flew around the world, covering 28,238 miles in 29 hours and 59 minutes.
- Before its first flight, Concorde underwent 5,000 hours of testing, making it the most tested plane in history.
- The name Concorde was chosen after French President Charles de Gaulle used the word in a speech; it means 'agreement' or 'treaty' in French.
- The project began in 1962 with a treaty between the British and French governments, and flights were operated by British Airways and Air France.
