Hypersonic aircraft Talon-A completes tests and promises to fly around the world in just 7 hours (X @Stratolaunch)
A U.S. aerospace startup called Stratolaunch has successfully conducted two test flights with the Talon-A, a reusable hypersonic aircraft capable of reaching speeds over Mach 5, or more than 6,100 km/h (3,800 mph).
The jet was air-launched by another gigantic aircraft, the Roc, and both tests took place over the Pacific Ocean, with safe landings at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States. At that speed, the Talon-A could theoretically circle the globe in just seven hours.
This achievement marks a major milestone in the development of hypersonic flights, especially due to the combination of extreme speed, runway landings, and quick payload recovery. According to Stratolaunch’s CEO, the tests demonstrated the viability of a reusable and highly efficient system for future applications, possibly for long-term military or commercial use.
Despite the progress, it’s still unlikely that the public will see these aircraft operating in commercial airports anytime soon, and even less likely that they will become financially accessible. However, Stratolaunch and other companies such as Venus Aerospace and Boom Technology continue to invest in technologies that may transform global air travel in the coming decades.
Source: LADBible | Photo: X @Stratolaunch | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
History has been made by Stratolaunch, a hypersonic flight test research company headquartered in Mojave, California. The fully autonomous Talon-A2, equipped with landing gear, has successfully exceeded speeds of Mach five and completed its second autonomous landing at Vandenburg… pic.twitter.com/eNL2l6X0cV
— Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) May 7, 2025
