Video: Hypersonic rocketplane could fly 100 passengers at mach 4 with zero emissions

June 20, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

EADS is showing off a new concept rocketplane that will use seaweed-based biofuel while in the atmosphere and rockets when it rises to its cruising altitude of 20 miles. The 2050 concept plane will be able to fly passengers at mach 4.

Passenger planes still run roughly the same as they have for 40 years, but in another 40 years we may make some progress. EADS, a European aerospace company, has unveiled its newest concept passenger plane: the Zehst, which stands for “Zero Emission Hypersonic Transportation.” The hybrid rocketplane will be powered by biofuels made from seaweed while under the Ozone layer and switch to rocket engines once it rises above the ozone, technically making it a zero-emission plane. With a cruising altitude of 20 miles, it will be able to travel from Paris to Tokyo in 2.5 hours, a flight that takes about 12 hours today.

“I imagine the plane of the future to look like Zehst,” EADS’ chief technical officer Jean Botti said as the project was announced before the start of the Paris International Air Show. A model of the plane will be on display at Bourget for the biannual aerospace showcase, which begins this Monday. EADS hopes to have a prototype plane built by 2020 and have the plane enter service around 2050.

If he is right, by 2050 we’ll all be flying at mach 4 in planes that have more in common with the SR-71 Blackbird than a common passenger plane today. From the concept video, it appears that the new plane will have Wi-Fi as well, which is always nice. It’s going to have a tough time competing with this clear biomorphing plane concept though. After all, everyone wants a window seat.

Showing 13 comments

Roberto Rob Knives Nieves at 12:20pm 21st June 2011 cool!
Jacob Neville-smith at 12:19am 21st June 2011 The SR-71 uses a titanium shell and fuel tank which expand as the plane heats up. I would be interested to see how this plane combats the issue of expanding skins and fuel tanks (due to heat generated by friction).
Matthew Ferrara at 11:55pm 20th June 2011 @Digital: Yeah, they named it silly. But one of these days, it would be nice to see a reporter ask some tough questions, not just repeat someone's press release... just saying. Cool concept to go fast... even better if they *could* get the seaweed to levitate the plane :>
Matthew Kalin at 11:43pm 20th June 2011 SCRAM jets are cool and all, but they are incredibly expensive, and you need jet fuel to power them which is not a viable option for the long term considering oil shortages the are sure to come by the time SCRAMJET aircraft will finally be made available for the widespread commercial market. They should really just augment the existing fleet of B747's and A320's to use hydrogen or a comparable propulsion technology instead of relying on a new fleet of these unsafe 2-engine system airliners, which they are talking about doing. What happens when the seaweed burning engine on this boat becomes compromised during flight, they switch to the rocket? Over a city? Over the ocean, with how much (undoubtedly) hydrogen fuel will they have onboard, and how long can it last at low-altitude flight in an emergency? I'm not shooting the messenger here, I'm trying to make a statement about the inadequacy of existing propulsion technology in the coming transportation era, and how we should deal with it as a society by using the designs we already know work with modified propulsion systems that don't use petrochemical energy at all.
Matthew Kalin at 11:21pm 20th June 2011 That's what they said about the SR-71... ;)
Lindsworth Horatio Deer at 11:20pm 20th June 2011 Quantum Teleportation anyone? at those speeds, the pilot could fly into outer space and not realize it. sounds like a advance SCRAM Jet RAM jet launched at supersonic speeds from an aeroplane). Boosts to high speeds using a RAM jet then the SCRAM jet kicks in........
Digital Trends at 11:20pm 20th June 2011 The whole thing will probably not see the light of day. Cool concept, definately not reality!
Matthew Kalin at 11:17pm 20th June 2011 Digital Trends They should differentiate between "Zero Emissions" and "Zero HARMFUL emissions", which is what I think they are referring to... it's probably just water vapor coming out the back.
Digital Trends at 11:14pm 20th June 2011 Don't kill the messenger. Zehst which is what the plane is called stands for “Zero Emission Hypersonic Transportation.” It's a concept and the company IS pitching it as zero emmissions. Doesn't mean it really is though.
Matthew Ferrara at 11:11pm 20th June 2011 @Digital: That's technically hogwash. It might be "carbon neutral" in some drawing-board sort of way, but unless the seaweed can "levitate" the plane into the air, it's going to be burned, which means something will "emit" out the back; Otherwise, where will the thrust come from? Good for it for being "neutral" but it doesn't change the laws of physics. Good headlines are often bad science. And the public deserves more.
Digital Trends at 11:08pm 20th June 2011 @Matthew: "The hybrid rocketplane will be powered by biofuels made from seaweed while under the Ozone layer and switch to rocket engines once it rises above the ozone, technically making it a zero-emission plane."
Matthew Kalin at 11:06pm 20th June 2011 Sounds extraordinary, and also brilliant, but the technology to get this wagon in the air would probably cost billions, not to mention a seaweed biofuel industry to even start off with. How about working on building us a viable way of getting off this dinky unpredictable rock we call home instead of just flying around it in circles as fast as we can, eh?
Matthew Ferrara at 11:03pm 20th June 2011 huh? if the thing has an exhaust port, there will be something coming out its tail pipe.......