ZEHST rocket aircraft

European Aeronautics and Space Group EADS is investing in the study of aircraft with speeds four times the speed of sound.

The Concorde produced by British and French combined was one of the rare aviation products that Europe truly superior to the US technically. Concorde's last commercial flight in 2003 seemed to have brought the supersonic line of airplanes forever buried in museums. But a few months ago, EADS surprised the whole world with the Z ehst aircraft project at the 2011 Bourget Air Show.

Super bar

According to Le Figaro newspaper, not only 'legendary continuity' , Zehst (Zero Emission High Speed ​​Transport, also transposed to the Airline ' Concorde ' in many ways). If Concorde was 'supersonic' with a maximum speed of about 2,700km / h, Zehst would fly at 4,800km / hour, ie 4 times the speed of sound (Mach 4), reaching supersound standards ( hypersonic). As a result, Zehst can connect Paris - Tokyo in 2 hours 30 (instead of 11:30 on ordinary planes), Paris - New York for 1 hour 30 (instead of 745). According to the design model introduced at Bourget, Zehst is about 80 meters long, looks quite a bit like Concorde to ensure aerodynamic principles and can carry between 60-100 passengers.

ZEHST rocket aircraft meet both fast and clean standards - (Photo: EADS)

The project of 'super bumper aircraft ' was jointly researched and developed by EADS with the French Air and Space Research Division (ONERA) and a number of Japanese airline groups. The civil aviation agencies of these two countries will support Zehst's research funding. Currently another EADS subsidiary, Astrium, has achieved some positive results for the tourism spacecraft project. Zehst project can rely on it to develop technical structures in the next 10 years and 2020 can test flight. EADS expects Zehst's first commercial flight to take off in 2050.

The 'green' plane of the future

The Zehst fabrication research program can be supported from the EU because it is a very environmentally friendly aircraft, in line with the 75% reduction of CO ₂ emissions from Europe. As its name suggests, Zehst can fly at extremely high speeds but does not pollute. To aim at this seemingly 'science fiction' goal , Zehst will be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, operating mainly with clean fuels.

EADS 'super bumper machine ' has 3 types of engines for 3 stages of a flight. Le Figaro quoted EADS Technical Director Jean Botti as saying that Zehst will launch, take off and reach a height of 5,000 meters by jet engine, similar to current aircraft but only using generation biofuels. 3rd made from algae. From a height of 20,000 meters and at a speed of nearly 1,000 km / hour, Zehst will switch to engines using liquid hydrogen, such as the rocket launcher Ariane. Finally, at 32,000 meters and to reach 4,800 km / hour, the aircraft will use the Ramjets super engine currently equipped for cruise missiles. This is the altitude of the stratosphere, where friction with air decreases, allowing Zehst to 'launch' at tremendous speeds without fear of burning. In the stratosphere, the amount of greenhouse gases is also less polluting than when discharged in the atmosphere.

In response to Le Parisien , Jean Botti is very optimistic about the feasibility of the project and the potential of future exploitation: 'Zehst is not a normal plane, nor a rocket but an airplane - Commercial missiles for the future, meeting both standards fast and clean '. The object of this type of aircraft is businessmen, celebrities who have to travel a lot in tight time. Flying four times faster than the speed of sound, but EADS experts will study how the acceleration of Zehst's human body is not higher than that of a conventional aircraft. As a result, passengers will not need to be equipped or specially trained before departure. EADS claims Zehst's fare will be no higher than Concorde, at 6,000-8,000 euros.