Boeing has unveiled a concept for a passenger-carrying hypersonic airplane. (Image/Boeing)
U.S. aerospace leader Boeing has unveiled its plans for what could be the world's first hypersonic airliner, capable of flying at five times the speed of sound.
With top speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour, the proposed hypersonic jet could shuttle passengers from New York to London in just two hours. Currently, the trip takes seven to eight hours.
The Chicago-based aviation giant revealed the renderings of the aircraft concept Tuesday at the annual American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics conference in Atlanta.
"Humankind has always wanted to go fast - always wanted to do things faster," said Kevin Bowcutt, chief scientists of hypersonics at Boeing.
"We are excited about the potential of hypersonic technology to connect the world faster than ever before," he said.
The concept is still in the early stages of development, as there are key technical challenges that need to be solved, said Boeing spokesperson Brianna Jackson.
But it is possible that the concept could become a reality in 20 to 30 years, she added.
Boeing has been testing ultra-fast technology for decades, which could be used for both military and commercial applications, according to the company.
Besides Boeing, other companies such as Lockheed Martin and Aerion Corporation are also working to develop hypersonic aircrafts, the CNN reported.
Kampuni ya Boeing imefunua wazo la ndege ya kasi ya juu ya sauti inayoweza kubeba abiria. Kampuni ya ndege ya Marekani Boeing imefunua mipango yake ya kutengeneza ndege ya kwanza duniani inayoweza kuruka kwa kasi ya mara tano ya sauti. Kwa kuwa ndege hiyo inaweza kusafiri kwa kasi ya kilomita 4,800 kwa saa, inaweza kusafirisha abiria kutoka New York hadi London kwa muda wa saa mbili tu. Kwa sasa, safari hiyo huchukua saa saba hadi nane. Kampuni hiyo kubwa ya ndege ya Chicago ilifunua muundo wa ndege hiyo katika mkutano wa kila mwaka wa Taasisi ya Marekani ya Anga na Anga huko Atlanta. "Ubinadamu umekuwa ukitaka kwenda haraka, daima ukitaka kufanya mambo kwa kasi zaidi,"" alisema Kevin Bowcutt, mwanasayansi mkuu wa hypersonics katika Boeing." "Tunafurahi juu ya uwezo wa teknolojia ya hypersonic kuunganisha ulimwengu kwa kasi zaidi kuliko hapo awali", alisema. "Hatua hiyo bado iko katika hatua za mwanzo za maendeleo, kwa kuwa kuna changamoto muhimu za kiufundi ambazo zinahitaji kutatuliwa, ""alisema msemaji wa Boeing Brianna Jackson." Lakini inawezekana kuwa wazo hilo linaweza kuwa halisi katika miaka 20 hadi 30, aliongeza. Kampuni ya Boeing imekuwa ikijaribu teknolojia ya kasi sana kwa miongo kadhaa, ambayo inaweza kutumika kwa matumizi ya kijeshi na kibiashara, kulingana na kampuni hiyo. Kampuni nyingine kama vile Lockheed Martin na Aerelion Corporation pia zinafanya kazi ya kutengeneza ndege za kasi ya juu ya sauti.