Could This Be The Next Air Force One? - Hermeus
Real Engineering・37 minutes read
Hermeus is developing a hypersonic passenger plane capable of flying at Mach 5, starting as a small team in a basement and overcoming funding challenges to focus on national security solutions. The company plans to conduct real-world flight testing to validate hypersonic designs and received significant funding to develop their own turbo-ramjet engine for future aircraft models.
Insights
- Hermeus, a company aiming to create a hypersonic passenger plane, started in a basement with minimal resources and faced significant challenges in funding and competition with established companies.
- The development of Hermeus' hypersonic technology involves innovative engineering solutions such as transitioning from turbojet to ramjet engines, utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques, and addressing material reusability challenges, with a focus on practical testing and collaboration between engineers, machinists, and technicians.
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Recent questions
What is Hermeus working on?
Developing hypersonic passenger planes.
How does Hermeus plan to validate their designs?
Through flight testing services.
What challenges has Hermeus faced?
Securing funding and attracting talent.
What is the significance of Mach 5 for Hermeus?
Allows the use of RAM jets instead of scram jets.
How does Hermeus approach design and assembly?
Engineers collaborate closely with technicians.
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Summary
00:00
Hermeus: Hypersonic Plane Innovation and Challenges
- Hermeus aims to create a hypersonic passenger plane capable of flying at Mach 5, faster than the Concorde.
- The company started with humble beginnings in a basement with four individuals and two dogs.
- Hermeus faced challenges in securing funding, attracting talent, and competing with established hardware companies.
- The company focused on solving national security challenges to generate revenue before pursuing commercial passenger aircraft.
- Hermeus plans to provide flight testing services with their first aircraft, Quarterhorse, to validate hypersonic designs.
- Real-world flight testing is crucial for Hermeus to gain revenue and confidence from investors.
- Hermeus received a $60 million contract from the US Air Force and $100 million in series B funding.
- The company developed their own subscale turbo ramjet engine, skipping reliance on third-party manufacturers.
- The engine architecture includes a jet engine at low speeds and custom high-speed components like an afterburner and ramjet combustor.
- Hermeus focuses on technology demonstrators for rapid iteration, using rugged and reliable components for early prototypes.
13:41
Hermeus develops turbo-ramjet engine with $1.5M.
- Air channeled around the compressor and turbine section is dumped directly into the afterburner, operating as a ramjet.
- Transitioning from a turbojet engine to a ramjet engine involves several steps to avoid deceleration issues.
- Hermeus installed a precooler to cool incoming air, allowing the turbojet engine to operate at faster velocities.
- A liquid hydrogen precooler placed in the jet engine inlet absorbs heat and turns into high-pressure gas, serving as a fuel source.
- Hermeus used a precooler to push their off-the-shelf jet engine to extreme conditions, reaching Mach 3.3.
- Testing was conducted at Purdue University to simulate high-speed flight conditions for the engine.
- Hermeus developed a functional turbo-ramjet with just $1.5 million, intended as a proof of concept.
- The J85 engine, used in the Northrop F-5, was selected for its hydro-mechanical controls and simplicity.
- Hermeus is actively working on developing ramjet engines using both the J85 and larger F100 versions.
- Manufacturing techniques like large format 3D printing and AI-driven robots are being utilized to reduce development costs for Hermeus' aircraft.
26:35
Advancements in Hypersonic Travel Technology
- Machina Labs are already producing titanium and inconel parts, aiding in design iteration.
- Hermeus has limited themselves to Mach 5 for hypersonic flight due to technological challenges.
- Mach 5 is significant as it allows the use of RAM jets instead of scram jets for engines.
- Metallics can be used for primary structures at Mach 5 due to lower temperatures compared to ceramics.
- Reusability of materials like inconel for thermal cycles is a challenge that Hermeus is addressing incrementally.
- Hermeus plans to move on to building the Darkhorse, a fully reusable uncrewed vehicle for defense missions.
- The Halcyon, a hypersonic passenger plane, utilizes compression lift for increased range and speed.
- The Halcyon could potentially fly passengers from New York to Paris in just an hour and a half.
- Hermeus focuses on business and first-class travel initially, aiming for premium products before wider accessibility.
- Energy production and storage advancements are crucial for making hypersonic travel more accessible due to high fuel costs.
39:52
Collaborative Engineering Environment Fosters Innovation
- Engineers and technicians collaborate closely in the design and assembly process to ensure parts can be effectively put together and integrated onto vehicles.
- Engineers benefit from direct feedback from technicians and machinists, improving their designs and understanding of practical manufacturing processes.
- The company fosters an environment of critical thinking and decision-making at the front lines, enabling engineers, machinists, and technicians to work together without heavy oversight.
- The company's approach encourages creativity and learning, contrasting with environments that pigeonhole engineers into specialized roles.
- The launch of Propeller, an engineering hub, offers job opportunities in companies like Hermeus and Relativity, with various roles available and plans for future expansion.
