China-based Sichuan Lingkong Tianxing Technology Co. has unveiled a supersonic commercial cargo aircraft prototype capable of reaching speeds twice that of the Concorde. The aircraft, named “Cuantianhou” (Rising Monkey), a new member of the “Yunxing” series, was introduced at an event held on Monday in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
2026: Target Year for First Flight
According to the company’s statement, the first flight of the Cuantianhou is planned for 2026, aimed at testing key performance metrics such as aerodynamics, heat-resistant materials, and power systems.
Deng Fan, chief engineer of Sichuan Lingkong Tianxing Technology Co., emphasised the strong resurgence of supersonic aircraft, saying: “Supersonic passenger aircraft are making significant breakthroughs. In the coming years, we have great potential to provide more economical and reliable high-speed flight services.”
Operation in Near-Space at High Speed
Designed to operate at altitudes between 20 to 100 kilometres, in near-space above Earth, the Cuantianhou is seen as a landmark in aviation technology.
The company also revealed plans for the supersonic passenger aircraft, called Dasheng or “Monkey King” in English, to make its first flight by 2030.
Successful Mach-4 Test Flights
In October, tests conducted with the Yunxing prototype supersonic aircraft successfully achieved speeds over Mach-4. With this development, the project has now entered the engineering development phase.
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