Dawn Aerospace’s Mk-II Aurora rocket aircraft. Picture: Dawn Aerospace
A New Zealand company has just the ranks of supersonic aircraft makers after the successful test flight of one of its rocket aircraft.
On November 12, Dawn Aerospace’s Mk-II Aurora rocket aircraft passed the speed of sound for the first time when it reached Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 82,500 feet.
The flight from New Zealand’s Glentanner Aerodrome, near Aoraki/Mt Cook on the South Island, had a test target speed and altitude of Mach 1.05 and 75,000 feet.
According to the company, the Aurora became the fastest aircraft to climb from ground level to 20 km (66,000 feet) in just 118.6 seconds. This previous record was set by an F-15 ‘Streak Eagle’ in the 1970s by an extra 4.2 seconds.
“This achievement highlights the immense potential of rocket-powered aircraft to achieve performance never seen before,” says Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace.
“We have confirmed the Aurora as the highest climb rate vehicle ever built.
“This milestone sets the stage for Aurora to become the world’s highest and fastest-flying aircraft and paves the way for the first operational hypersonic aircraft,” Powell says.
The Aurora is designed to fly to the edge of space — at an altitude of 100km — twice in a single day and reach speeds of Mach 3.5 during ascent and re-entry.
The Mk-II Aurora has pure rocket propulsion and is not limited to the atmosphere, making it useful for microgravity research, atmospheric science, Earth observation, and high-speed flight testing.
Powell says the flight was the result of seven years of design, development, testing and supersonic flight.
“We are now achieving this and will start commercial payload operations in the coming months under the Dawn Hypersonics brand,” he says.
Dawn Hypersonics will focus on advancing hypersonic flight with a strong emphasis on international markets.
Key research, development, and flight testing will continue in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“With access to vast open skies and test ranges in the South Pacific, New Zealand is poised to become a global hub for advanced aerospace testing, including hypersonic research,” Powell says.
