Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Venus Aerospace and Hermeus are the modern day companies that are truly using the small and effective engineering team approaches and methods of the Clarence "Kelly" Johnson led (1943-1975) Lockheed Skunkworks.
Here is analysis of their technology and how they will crack the three speed zone problem that has stopped researchers for decades.
Venus Aerospace has new simpler engine with 15% more efficiency which could go from 0 to mach 6 with one engine. They have already ground tested a 2000 pound thrust version and will fly supersonic in 2025 and hypersonic with a drone in 2026.
Hermeus is using turbine combined cycle for a two engine in one approach. Hermeus will use a high speed dive to go from mach 3.5 to mach 5. This will remove the need for another engine in the mach 3.5 to 4.5 range.
Both are companies actually rapidly building and testing a series of engines and flyable prototypes. This follows in the tradition of the Lockheed skunkworks which had its rapid development in those times.
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Venus Aerospace and Hermeus are the modern day companies that are truly using the small and effective engineering team approaches and methods of the Clarence "Kelly" Johnson led (1943-1975) Lockheed Skunkworks.
Here is analysis of their technology and how they will crack the three speed zone problem that has stopped researchers for decades.
Venus Aerospace has new simpler engine with 15% more efficiency which could go from 0 to mach 6 with one engine. They have already ground tested a 2000 pound thrust version and will fly supersonic in 2025 and hypersonic with a drone in 2026.
Hermeus is using turbine combined cycle for a two engine in one approach. Hermeus will use a high speed dive to go from mach 3.5 to mach 5. This will remove the need for another engine in the mach 3.5 to 4.5 range.
Both are companies actually rapidly building and testing a series of engines and flyable prototypes. This follows in the tradition of the Lockheed skunkworks which had its rapid development in those times.
Follow Brian Wang on NextBigFuture.com
Follow Brian Wang on X.com/@NextBigFuture
Follow Randy Kirk on youtube.com/@randykirk_youtubechannel
Patreon - Next Big Future and Randy Kirk
This channel brings you the most important science and technology breakthroughs and analysis at least once per week.
