Hypersonic Engine Test Milestone

We've demonstrated turbojet to ramjet transition within our engine, Chimera. This is one of the most important technological feats to making operational hypersonic flight a reality.

Chimera is a turbine-based combined cycle engine (TBCC) – which basically means it’s a hybrid between a turbojet and a ramjet. The ability to switch between these two modes allows our first aircraft, Quarterhorse, to take off from a regular runway and then accelerate up to high-Mach speeds.

Our TBCC engine is unique in the field of hypersonics. Most hypersonic platforms are powered by a rocket engine. But this approach makes reusability much harder and inherently more dangerous for passenger flight.

By making a full-range air-breathing hypersonic engine that does not require a rocket to accelerate, Hermeus is setting the stage for operational hypersonic flight – meaning aircraft that can be rapidly re-used.

An additional benefit of this engine design is that it accommodates existing transportation infrastructure. Our aircraft are designed to be operational at traditional airports.

This is important not just for hypersonic testing, but critical given Hermeus’ goal of radically accelerating passenger travel through hypersonic flight.

With mode transition successfully demonstrated, the Hermeus team is now racing to manufacture the first Quarterhorse aircraft that will begin flight testing in late 2023.

[TheBigChad]

I love how they named it Quarter Horse. It’s a misconception that thoroughbred is the fastest horse breed when in reality, the quarter horse has the fastest recorded speed, and they do it in bursts. It’s really fitting considering how this hybrid engine works

[Michael_Michaels]

Fascinating stuff guys! Congrats for such achievement! That engine cutaway with the ramjet flow is just brilliant! At last we have more detail about Chimera!
Thank you all

[tristank]

I remember seeing a video about you guys not too long ago, and I was like: "oh yeah that'll take a while... (like y'know 1-2 years)"
and yet here you guys are pushing the boundaries, so quickly. So fast in fact that you could say that your development is moving at Hypersonic speeds... (ok I will see myself out the door now)

[akshay.kumar.k]

The SR 71 had something like this except the high pressure bypass ran from high pressure compressor instead of directly from the inlet. Cool idea.

[DutchThackers]

Good to see young engineers pushing boundaries. Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing it in the aircraft!

[davewarrender]

Hell yeah guys/gals, as someone who was a teenager at the beginning of the shuttle programme, and was fascinated by the X plane programme, all I can say is man was born to explore, to stand on the summit of a mountain and look at the next one and wonder what lies there. Keep looking at that next mountain .. keep exploring , keep pushing, and remember.. if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, try again. Good luck to all of you

[DaleNorthEast]

Absolutely wonderful to see a bunch of younger folk working on this! Keep it up

[ryan_roga]

Future engineer: "We like didn't like celebrate because like we had to like focus and like engineering is like hard so like we like celebrated after." 👌

[freddoflintstono]

Congratulations - that is a *major* step forward.

[kaviator]

Bravo to your team! This is no small feat. It is refreshing to see a younger generation take on challenges involving radical pieces of hardware. Hats off to you all and Godspeed!

[largestella]

I'm no engineer, but I find this all super cool. Can't believe manned hypersonic is so close to being acheived, you guys are awesome 👍👌

[NitroTom]

I state that the fuel consumption of that engine is equivalent to the one of this young woman for saying the word "like" so often.

[spf]

Go Hermeus! You guys are amazing. You are literally making history.

[BillDownhill]

This is quite possibly the final frontier of atmospheric air travel. You guys are true pioneers. Godspeed.

[roykdeboy]

Congrats guys and gals!! Awsome stuff!! Can’t wait to see it fly

[lolimthenoob]

I can honestly say this sent goosebumps over me.

[slckby]

now on to making it fit in my twingo ! might have to slightly modify the firewall for that one i think ...

[mikegoodno]

This is so awesome to see. My father in law worked with NASA on the x-43 planes. I will definitely be showing him these videos!

[bullvine]

Great to see young engineers build this. It’s beautiful and exciting. Well done.

[rustymiller]

Incredible engine. Could have, like, totally literally, like, gone without hearing the girl speak about the celebration but, like, that's literally totally fine