Virgin Galactic Unveils Mach 3 Aircraft for High-Speed Commercial Flights

Extending beyond space tourism, Virgin Galactic has now unveiled its new concept for a Mach 3 aircraft, hoping to once create a high-speed commercial air travel option by employing the help of British engineering company Rolls Royce.

Virgin Galactic’s endeavor involves creating a Mach 3 certified delta-wing aircraft that can hold up to 19 people and operate at an altitude of 60,000 feet. It hopes to incorporate custom cabin layouts such as business or first class arrangements and is planning on using sustainable aviation fuel while working with Rolls Royce to develop its propulsion technology.

“The design philosophy of the aircraft is geared around making high speed travel practical, sustainable, safe, and reliable while making customer experience a top priority,” says the company. The next stage in the process will see the team define specific system architectures and decide on which materials to use for the aircraft’s design and manufacturing.

“We are excited to complete the Mission Concept Review and unveil this initial design concept of a high-speed aircraft, which we envision as blending safe and reliable commercial travel with an unrivaled customer experience,” said George Whitesides, Chief Space Officer at Virgin Galactic. “We are pleased to collaborate with the innovative team at Rolls-Royce as we strive to develop sustainable, cutting-edge propulsion systems for the aircraft, and we are pleased to be working with the FAA to ensure our designs can make a practical impact from the start. We have made great progress so far, and we look forward to opening up a new frontier in high-speed travel.”

Elsewhere in tech, Google has just announced three new Pixel phones.