China is building a plane that goes around the planet in 7 hours

( Yahoo )

China is developing a groundbreaking Mach-16 jet capable of circling the planet in just seven hours, a feat that could redefine the very idea of long-haul travel. Designed by Lingkong Tianxing, the hypersonic aircraft promises speeds once reserved for science fiction. Curious just how fast this jet can go—and how soon the public might be able to board one? Keep reading.

Could this Chinese hypersonic jet become the next Concorde— but faster?

China’s push into hypersonic travel goes far beyond bold promises. Building on its vision of a Mach-16 jet that could circle the globe in just seven hours, Lingkong Tianxing is already making tangible progress toward rewriting the rules of long-distance flight.

The Beijing-based company has successfully flown its Yunxing prototype at Mach 4 — roughly 3,069 mph — and continues to conduct advanced engine tests to reach even higher speeds. If its technology evolves as planned, the jet could slash a London-to-New York trip to an astonishing 90 minutes, far surpassing both today’s eight-hour flights and the Concorde’s record of just under three hours.

Lingkong Tianxing confirmed that its Yunxing prototype completed a successful test flight in October, with additional engine trials scheduled for November. Each of these milestones brings the company one step closer to turning its futuristic vision into reality, moving the world nearer to experiencing the next generation of ultra-fast passenger travel.

The rise and fall of the Concorde

The Concorde was a groundbreaking supersonic passenger airliner, jointly developed by British Airways and Air France, capable of flying at Mach 2, or roughly 1,350 mph — about twice the speed of sound. This remarkable speed allowed passengers to cross the Atlantic in under three and a half hours, slashing typical flight times in half.

First flown in 1969, with commercial service beginning in 1976, the Concorde carried between 92 and 128 passengers on primarily London–New York and Paris–New York routes, offering a luxurious experience that matched its futuristic technology.

Despite its engineering marvel, the Concorde faced numerous challenges. Its operation was extremely expensive, with high fuel consumption and maintenance costs making tickets prohibitively pricey, and sonic booms restricted where it could fly over land. A tragic crash in 2000 further shook public confidence, and combined with economic pressures and declining demand after 9/11, both British Airways and Air France retired the Concorde in 2003.

The next era of supersonic flight is almost here

Recent innovations in aviation show that the Concorde’s legacy is far from forgotten. Lingkong Tianxing’s Yunxing prototype demonstrates China’s serious push into hypersonic travel, while other projects around the world are also aiming to break new records.

Visionaries like Oscar Viñals pushed the envelope with the A•HyM, capable of flying more than five times the speed of sound, while NASA has pursued its own breakthroughs, including the X-59 aircraft.

Back in China, aerospace companies like Cormac are developing jets designed to be quieter than a car even at Mach 1, and ambitious concepts from firms such as Venus Aerospace could one day make the London-to-New York route in just one hour.

Together, these innovations signal that the next era of ultra-fast passenger flight is closer than ever—and the Yunxing is leading the charge.