One of my classmates told me that there was this new plane the europeans had... it travelled at mach 5??

Question

one of my classmates told me the other day that there was this new european planes that could travel halfway around the world in 5 hours? could such a thing be possible?? mach 5, thats almost the speed of one modern Surface to air missiles...

if such a plane is true, could you give me the name please?

Answer 1

This is the last of many "announcements" of high Mach passenger aircraft being developed.  At this point in time, none have left the drawing boards.  If you wish to read about high Mach aircraft, read about the X-15's.  A bit of trivia, Neil Armstrong was an X-15 test pilot.

Answer 2

The US was doing some concept-testing

of a Boeing design called HSCT - HIgh Speed-Civil-Transport

This back in 1997.

Answer 3

Someone is pulling your leg. While it is possible to fly Mach 5 as of now it is not feasible or cost effective. Many countries have Mach 5 airplanes on the drawing board but as of yet none are in actual existence

Answer 4

There is no atmospheric craft as of now that could circumnavigate the earth in 5 hours. Such things are possible, but not with our current technology.

Ancient missiles like the AIM-54 Phoenix used to do Mach-5, so Mach-5 is no big deal. Sustaining Mach 5 for 5 hours in the atmosphere is...

Answer 5

It's all on paper.  Last weekend on yahoo there was an article about an English company that has drawn up designs for a Mach 5 hypersonic transport.  The article with pictures  showed a windowless, 300 seat, front Cunard, rear delta winged hypersonic aircraft which would  be twice the length of an A380 and capable of using hydrogen fuel to travel from Brussels to Sydney Australia in 4 or 5 hours on a north Atlantic and polar route at mach 5. Supposedly the aircraft would be as efficient at subsonic speeds needed when crossing populated areas.  

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Again this is all on paper.  Development costs would no doubt be astronomical.