Investment News | 7 August 2020
Supersonic deal for Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce has signed with Virgin Galactic to design engines that would power the world’s first supersonic jet since Concorde was retired in 2003.
Having designed the engine for Concorde, Rolls-Royce has now penned a memorandum of understanding to work with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic on a small jet that can fly at 2,000 mph – or MCH 3 – at heights of around 60,000 ft.
It is thought the new aircraft will be able to carry between nine and 19 passengers.
Rolls-Royce North America chairman & CEO, Tom Bell, said: “We are excited to partner with Virgin Galactic and TSC to explore the future of sustainable high speed flight.
“Rolls-Royce brings a unique history in high speed propulsion, going back to the Concorde, and offers world-class technical capabilities to develop and field the advanced propulsion systems needed to power commercially available high-Mach travel.”
Chief space officer of Virgin Galactic, George Whitesides, added: “We are pleased to collaborate with the innovative team at Rolls-Royce as we strive to develop sustainable, cutting-edge propulsion systems for the aircraft.”
