In the world of aircraft patents, this looks very cool. The Patent Yogi focuses on an aircraft proposed by Airbus that would be able to reach speeds up to Mach 4.5, making it possible to travel from New York to London in one hour.
How does it work? As the Patent Yogi illustrates in this video, the Airbus will basically be a “supersonic roller coaster” using two strategically placed ramjets, two turbojets, and a rocket engine and fins on the backend.
All would be triggered at different points in flight to help the aircraft take off then go into a vertical climb to reach a cruising altitude of 35,000 meters (that’s right, meters, not feet). Check out the proposed flight path to the right.
“Ultra-rapid” roller coaster rides through the skies are all well and good, but one of the parts of the patent that has me most excited? Air “hammocks” for passengers to experience “improved comfort” in flight. You’ve got to see these things in the video to believe them.
Swinging in a hammock and going from JFK to Heathrow in an hour? Sign me up.
