Airbus scheme for ‘son of Concorde’

AIRBUS has filed a second patent for an aircraft that could travel from Paris to New York in 90 minutes.

The patent, filed in the US, outlines designs for a huge rocket engine that would allow the aircraft to travel at more than 3,425mph - or four-and-a-half times the speed of sound.

There have been no commercial supersonic airliners since Concorde was grounded in 2003.

The aircraft manufacturer issued its original plans for a supersonic jet in July this year, but the company has now made improvements to the initial design.

According to the plans, it would be powered by three different types of engines working in sequence. Twin turbo jets would help it climb at take-off, retracting into the fuselage as the plane reached the sound barrier. A rocket motor would then take the plane to an altitude of 100,000ft, where twin wing-mounted ramjets will push it to its top speed.

The original patent states: 'In the case of civil applications, the market envisaged is principally that of business travel and VIP passengers, who require transcontinental return journeys within one day.' The vessel would be able to carry 20 passengers. It could also have military applications.

Airbus said that the jet would be able to complete trips such as Tokyo to Los Angeles in just three hours.

France Info reports that the first prototypes may be ready to fly in two decades.

Earlier this year, Air France revealed plans for a hypersonic plane capable of crossing countries in minutes by 2023.

Photo: Patent Yogi / Youtube