Posted on February 05, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

A UK firm has unveiled its plans to launch a hypersonic passenger jet that would take just five hours to fly from Europe to Australia.

The European Space Agency is funding scientists and engineers to develop the A2 whhich could carry up to 300 passengers at 3000mph.
Designed by Reaction Engines, the A2 could be in use within 25 years if there was a demand for it, said senior engineer and managing director Alan Bond.
Commenting on the aircraft’s potential he said:
“The A2 is designed to leave Brussels international airport, fly quietly and subsonically out into the north Atlantic at mach 0.9 before reaching mach 5 across the North Pole and heading over the Pacific to Australia.”
“The flight time from Brussels to Australia, allowing for air traffic control, would be four hours 40 minutes.”