Los Angeles to Tokyo in just 6 hours? New jetliners spark a revolution in air travel

By Rita

Tired of the discomfort of long-haul flights? A new wave of aviation revolution is quietly underway. According tothe UK's Daily Mail, two newly developed jets in the United States are focused on breaking the speed barrier for commercial aircraft, reducing transatlantic flight times from New York to London from 7–8 hours down to just 3 hours; and Los Angeles to Tokyo in just 6 hours.

The N+2 is designed by Lockheed Martin, a major U.S. aerospace company. This passenger aircraft can carry 80 people and features three jet engine configurations, one on top of the fuselage and two under the wings, to reduce noise.

▲ N+2 exterior (Image /lockheedmartin.com)

With a top speed of 1,200 mph, the N+2 can fly from London to New York in under 3 hours. Airbus in Nevada has also partnered with U.S. aerospace company Aerion to develop the supersonic jet AS2,which can fly from London to New York in just 3 hours and from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just 6 hours.

"To reduce sonic booms, we are developing an entirely new propulsion system," said Michael Buonanno, a manager at Lockheed Martin.

▲ AS2 exterior (Image /aerionsupersonic.com)

The Aerion AS2 can reach speeds of 1,217 mph, using supersonic laminar flow technology to match the speed of the Concorde. This AS2 model can carry 12 passengers, with a production cost exceeding $100 million. Flight testing is set to begin in 2019.