Hermaeus partnered with Pratt & Whitney to test advanced precooling technology using the F100 engine.
This technology aims to increase the maximum speed of a turbine engine by lowering the temperature of the incoming air. The test, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, is designed to gather critical data on the performance of F100 engines equipped with Hermeus' precooling technology under various operating conditions. This data lays the foundation for further evaluations simulating high Mach flight conditions.
“Hermeus' Turbine-Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) engine, named Chimera, is a full-range air-breathing hypersonic engine that combines a turbine and a ramjet,” the company explained in a statement. “At low speeds, the Chimera operates in turbine mode with its F100 engine, but at high speeds the engine transitions to ramjet mode. The precooler improves the performance of the turbine, and these two It helps bridge the gap between modes.”
The Quarter Horse Mk 2 aircraft is set to integrate a precooler and F100 engine combination and is expected to achieve speeds in excess of Mach 2.5. Future versions, such as the Quarter Horse Mk 3, will utilize complete chimera engines that include ramjet components, allowing speeds approaching Mach 4.
Hermaeus develops hypersonic aircraft for defense and commercial applications. In August 2020, Air Force One entered into a partnership with the United States Air Force (USAF) to offer hypersonic travel as a potential solution for transport.
In March 2024, Hermaeus' first flyable aircraft, the Quarter Horse Mk 1, was unveiled, powered by General Electric J85 engines. The Quarter Horse Mk.1 is expected to undergo maiden flight testing, including high-speed takeoff and landing, at Edwards Air Force Base in late 2024.
