AssetID: 54840546
Headline: RAW VIDEO: London To NYC In 90 Minutes? New Hypersonic Jet Soars In First Flight
Caption: A revolutionary hypersonic jet has completed its first successful flight, marking a major step toward ultra-fast air travel that could one day slash transatlantic journey times to just 90 minutes. The uncrewed Quarterhorse MK 1, developed by aerospace startup Hermeus, took to the skies above Edwards Air Force Base in California in May 2025. The compact aircraft, roughly the size of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, is powered by a General Electric J85 engine and features a distinctive needle-like nose and low aspect ratio wings - optimised for high-speed performance. Footage of the test shows the prototype being rolled out onto the vast runway before autonomously accelerating and lifting off with surprising ease. After a short flight, it executed a smooth landing, showcasing the precision engineering of its propulsion, fuel, and remote piloting systems. Hermeus CEO and co-founder AJ Piplica praised the milestone: "MK 1 has redefined the pace of developing and flying new aircraft. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished. We’ve proven the viability of our iterative development approach. But this is just the start." The MK 1 was built in just 204 days, and its successor - the MK 2 - is already in development, with a first flight targeted for late 2025. Expected to reach speeds of Mach 2.5 (around 1,918 mph), the next-generation aircraft will be five times faster than commercial airliners. Hermeus president Skyler Shuford highlighted the importance of the test flight data: "The real-world flight data from MK 1 provides significant technical value that we’re rolling into our next aircraft." The U.S. Air Force has been a key partner in the project. General Scott Cain, commander of the Air Force Test Center, commented: "Industry partnerships continue to have an important role in the development and test of disruptive and innovative capabilities for our warfighters." To support its rapid development goals, Hermeus recently broke ground on a new engine test facility at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. The High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test Facility (HEAT) will be the company’s largest and most advanced site, enabling rigorous testing of hypersonic propulsion systems, including the Chimera engine and the Pratt & Whitney F100. Hermeus says the Jacksonville hub will play a vital role in advancing both defense and commercial hypersonic technologies, with commercial high-Mach test flights expected to begin in 2026.
Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,Hypersonic flight,Quarterhorse MK 1,Hermeus,supersonic travel,Mach 2.5,London to New York,90-minute flight,jet prototype,aerospace innovation,Edwards Air Force Base,Chimera engine,high-speed aviation,GE J85 engine,future air travel,HEAT facility,commercial hypersonic,remote piloting,test flight,MK 2 jet,Cecil Airport Jacksonville
PersonInImage: Quarterhorse MK 1