China is testing a supersonic jet that's even faster than the 'Son of Concorde' - and it could whizz passengers from London to New York in less than 2 hours
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It's been more than 20 years since the legendary Concorde last flew, but China could be the one to provide its spiritual successor. A Beijing-based company called Space Transportation is working on a supersonic jet that's even faster than NASA's 'Son of Concorde'.
![[Called Jindouyun, the jet engine reached Mach 4 or 3,045mph - four times the speed of sound - at altitudes of more than 65,600 feet]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/11/93350155-14213239-image-m-30_1734693876666.jpg)
In tests, the jet's engine reached Mach 4 or 3,045mph – four times the speed of sound – at altitudes of more than 65,600 feet, reports South China Morning Post. This is twice as fast as the defunct Concorde's max speeds (Mach 2 or 1,338mph) and three times that of NASA's 'Son of Concorde' (937 miles per hour).
![[The successful test flight is a key milestone for developing the Yunxing supersonic civilian jet, which will fly passengers from London to New York in under 2 hours]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93347965-14213239-image-m-12_1734689258662.jpg)
'This engine has significant commercial potential in the field of high-speed flight within near-space environments,' Space Transportation said in a statement. The successful test flight is a key milestone for developing the Yunxing supersonic civilian jet, which will fly passengers from London to New York in under 2 hours.
![[Powering the Yunxing aircraft, the Jindouyun engine could usher a new era of superfast passenger travel for commuters and holiday-makers alike]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93349111-14213239-image-a-20_1734691596703.jpg)
Space Transportation aims to have the aircraft ready for its first flight by 2027 and the first commercial high-speed point-to-point transport flight to take place by 2030. Yunxing passengers will be high enough to see the curvature of Earth – where the horizon is a slight curve rather than a straight line, normally seen from 50,000 feet.
![[Space Transportation aims to have the aircraft ready for its first flight by 2027 and the first commercial high-speed point-to-point transport flight to take place by 2030. Pictured, the firm's promo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93349109-14213239-image-a-17_1734691582903.jpg)
The jet reached Mach 4 or 3,045mph - four times the speed of sound - at altitudes of more than 65,600 feet. Called Jindouyun, the jet engine reached Mach 4 or 3,045mph - four times the speed of sound - at altitudes of more than 65,600 feet. Jindouyun, or JinDou400, was named after the 'somersault cloud' used by the Monkey King in the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West'.
![[Yunxing is now a serious rival for NASA in the race to fly paying passengers aboard a supersonic jet for the first time since Concorde]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93349099-14213239-image-a-18_1734691592000.jpg)
