HSP Magnavem, “Big Bird” for friends, is the plan for the development of a wear-proof aircraft that aims to reach 1850 km per hour (1.150 miles per hour): they would allow a journey from London to New York to last only 3 hours. A pinch slower than the Concorde, the designers recall, but without the underlying problems of the legendary Anglo-French supersonic plane put aside in 2003.
Almost a cruise
The huge, arrowhead-like plane has two decks: first class upstairs and tourist class downstairs. And when I say “first class” I'm not joking. No sunbeds or mezzanine seats, here we are talking about small private suites and even a spa. Not to mention the incredible view thanks to the “ceiling” windows above their seats.
In all, up to 500 people could comfortably fit into a heavier contraption than an Airbus A380 (the heaviest aircraft today).
An atomic plane, literally
In the intentions of the designers, this giant with wings, 70 meters long and weighing almost 270 tons, would have mini fusion reactors located under the passenger decks. They would power the four huge ramjet electric motors at the rear of the fuselage.
The latter would push Big Bird first to a height of over 15.000 meters, and then, through its dynamog jets, they would take it to supersonic speed.
The supersonic future of air travel
Given the scenarios that could soon make short-haul air travel obsolete (costs and pollution), the future of commercial flights could find a supersonic path. As mentioned, slower than a Concorde: but the Concorde failed, too noisy and expensive, with its few passengers.
A new category of roomy, affordable and quiet aircraft could be a breakthrough. Ambitious, but "possible" aircraft: the Magnavem designer, oscar vinals, he is sure of it. The concept of him, says, is based on reality: it is not a far-fetched render (sorry), but a project born from the analysis of data on the technologies available today.
The compact fusion reactor (CFR portable) to power the engines, the construction techniques, the economic sustainability of the project (360 tourist seats and 140 between business and first class): all studied in detail. At the moment, however, the “prudence” dictated by the historical moment has only approached institutions and universities to the project, and only for study purposes.
To be supersonic, it's a future that goes pretty slow.
