Tech Today with Eric Tarczynski The Future of Hypersonic Aviation with AJ Piplica
Jun 5, 2025
AJ Piplica, Founder and CEO of Hermeus, shares insights on the dawn of hypersonic aviation after successfully flying the Quarterhorse Mk 1. He explains the significance of hypersonic travel for both national defense and commercial aviation, highlighting the technological advancements needed. Piplica also discusses the competitive landscape between governments and private sectors in hypersonic development and envisions a future where global travel becomes unimaginably fast. Get ready to rethink air travel!
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Hermeus Innovates Hypersonic Flight
- Hermeus aims to radically accelerate aviation with hypersonic aircraft for faster global travel.
- Their iterative development benefits from a SpaceX-experienced core team applying aerospace lessons to aviation.
Hypersonic Flight Explained
- Today's commercial airliners fly at Mach 0.8 and Concorde achieved Mach 2 supersonic speed.
- Hypersonic flight begins at Mach 5, offering about 5 to 6 times the speed of sound, vastly faster transportation.
Reusable Hypersonic Tech Focus
- Existing hypersonic systems are mostly single-use and uncrewed, like missiles and reentry vehicles.
- Hermeus focuses on reusable, air-breathing hypersonic aircraft using combined turbine and scramjet engines for sustained flight.