US EditionHermeus Flies Newest Supersonic Plane, Delivering Its Second Successful First Flight in Nine Months
Hermeus' Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 completed its first subsonic flight, starting tests to expand to supersonic speeds with a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, aiming for Mach 5 capability.
- On March 2, 2026 Hermeus flew its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 at Spaceport America over White Sands Missile Range, completing a subsonic systems checkout that validated aircraft handling and operations.
- As part of a four-aircraft roadmap, Hermeus prioritizes rapid iteration in the Mk 2 phase, aiming to compress decades of aerospace development into months for operational hypersonic capability for the U.S. this decade.
- A F-16-sized unmanned design, Mk 2.1 features a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine and is nearly three times larger, four times heavier, with a variable-inlet delta wing for high‑Mach performance.
- This flight begins a campaign to reach supersonic speeds in the coming weeks, with Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 leading the test campaign before Mk 2.2 aims to become the fastest unmanned aircraft.
- Hermeus is compressing timelines, completing a second first flight within a year, using real flight data to refine designs and reduce risk while prioritizing high-speed systems for national defense.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Hermeus’ Supersonic Plane Takes Flight From Spaceport America
Hermeus’ Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 vehicle readies for its first flight Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Spaceport America. Courtesy/Hermeus SPACEPORT AMERICA News: LAS CRUCES — Hermeus, a high-speed aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., celebrated a successful first flight of its latest Quarterhorse aircraft at Spaceport America. The flight of the Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 was the second first flight conducted by Hermeus in less than a year and the…
PR Newswire
Hermeus Flies Newest Supersonic Plane, Delivering Its Second Successful First Flight in Nine Months
/PRNewswire/ -- Hermeus, a venture-backed defense aviation company, today announced it successfully flew its latest Quarterhorse aircraft, marking the...
Quarterhorse 2.1 takes flight on way to beating 50-year
Aerospace startup Hermeus has taken another step toward challenging the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird’s legendary supersonic speed record as the company’s uncrewed Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 lifted off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on March 2, 2026 for its maiden flight.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: Hermeus, Supersonic, SR-71, Test Flights
Hermeus flies larger Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 in second first flight within nine months
Hermeus has completed the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 unmanned aircraft, marking the company’s second new… The post Hermeus flies larger Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 in second first flight within nine months appeared first on Air Data News.
Hermeus Flies Second Supersonic Test Plane in Nine Months
For the second time in just over nine months, an Atlanta-based company this week debuted a new supersonic test aircraft. Hermeus on Monday said it completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, one of several test articles the company is developing as it iterates toward its flagship Darkhorse—a reusable, multi-mission, hypersonic uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for defense and national security missions. The sortie followed the debut tes…
Hermeus completes first flight of Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, beginning supersonic test campaign in New Mexico
The next-generation Quarterhorse builds on the first flight of the Mk 1 aircraft in May 2025, which validated the company’s rapid and iterative development model. Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, roughly the size of an F-16 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, is nearly three times larger, four times heavier and significantly faster than its predecessor. The company said the new aircraft is one of the largest unmanned aircraft ever built. Flown wit…
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