Imagine boarding a flight in Shanghai and stepping off in Los Angeles just 30 minutes later.
A team of Chinese scientists has developed a revolutionary oblique detonation engine capable of reaching speeds up to 20,000 km/h (Mach 16)—a breakthrough that could redefine global travel.
This innovation comes from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), where researchers successfully tested the engine in Beijing’s JF-12 shock tunnel. Unlike traditional jet engines, which rely on slower combustion processes, this new design harnesses shock waves to generate explosive bursts of energy. These controlled detonations allow for near-instant fuel ignition, making the engine significantly more powerful and efficient.
How It Works
At the heart of the technology is a combustion chamber designed to use shock waves to compress and ignite fuel at extreme speeds. According to Han Xin, a scientist at the CAS Institute of Mechanics, this results in a “self-reinforcing explosion front,” accelerating fuel burn rates up to 1,000 times faster than conventional engines.
The tests, conducted at speeds of Mach 9 (11,000 km/h), showed pressure spikes 20 times above ambient levels, indicating strong thrust generation. However, due to the immense power required, the wind tunnel could sustain these speeds for only 50 milliseconds. Despite this limitation, scientists were able to observe the engine’s ignition and sustained propulsion in action.
A Future of Hypersonic Flights?
The ultimate goal of this technology is to develop aircraft capable of flying at Mach 16, allowing passengers to reach anywhere on Earth in under an hour. If perfected, this could eliminate the need for long-haul flights, drastically reducing travel times and transforming global connectivity. However, several challenges remain before commercial use becomes a reality. Researchers still need to better understand and control shock waves while addressing issues like heat management and fuel efficiency.
While it may be years before passengers experience hypersonic travel, the successful test of the oblique detonation engine marks a major step forward. Could this be the beginning of an era where flights last minutes instead of hours?
