China Tests Hypersonic Passenger Plane Capable of London–New York Journey in Under 2 Hours

A Chinese aerospace company, Space Transportation (Lingkong Tianxing Technology), recently completed the inaugural test flight of its hypersonic passenger plane prototype, the Yunxing, which it claims can reach speeds of Mach 4—more than double that of the retired Concorde.

The Beijing-based firm reported a successful flight over the weekend and plans additional engine testing in November. The full-scale model is anticipated to take its first flight in 2027, according to the *South China Morning Post*.

If the project succeeds, the Yunxing could become the first supersonic airliner since the Concorde’s final flight in 2003. At its projected speed of 5,000 kph (3,000 mph), the plane could reduce travel time between London and New York to just 1.5 hours, a record compared to Concorde’s fastest time of 2 hours and 53 minutes and the typical 8-hour journey on standard flights.