Quarterhorse Mk 1 Jet Successfully Flown by Hermeus at Edwards Air Force Base

A Giant Leap Towards Hypersonic Flight: Hermeus' Quarterhorse Series

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. - Hermeus, a pioneering aerospace and defense technology company, reached new heights with the first flight of their Quarterhorse Mk 1 aircraft. This pioneering event is a testament to Hermeus' relentless pursuit of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft, revolutionizing the speed of aircraft development in the US.

"Mk 1 has redefined jet-setting speeds on the aviation scene," said AJ Piplica, CEO and Co-Founder of Hermeus. "Our team has made history by proving the viability of our rapid development method. But we're just getting started - the bar is set high for the next iteration."

Within a year, the Quarterhorse Mk 1 went from a blank slate to flight-ready. The primary goal of the test campaign was to validate high-speed takeoff and landing capabilities for large uncrewed aircraft. These basic operations, made challenging due to the unique configuration necessary for high-speed flight, were put to the test.

"Collaboration with the industry remains vital in advancing game-changing and innovative technological prowess for our military forces," noted Major General Scott Cain, Commander of Air Force Test Center. "The promise of routine hypersonic flight unveils an exhilarating future for our joint team."

Data from the campaign validated key design aspects, such as aerodynamics, stability, and control. Furthermore, it confirmed the performance of crucial vehicle subsystems including propulsion, fuel systems, hydraulics, power, thermal management, avionics, flight software, telemetry, flight termination, and command and control.

"Flight data from Mk 1 provides invaluable technical insights, which we're putting to good use in our next aircraft," said President and Co-Founder Skyler Shuford. "On top of that, our team's impressive feat of completing this milestone under tight deadlines is essential to rejuvenating the US's once-lost ability to quickly develop brand-new, full-scale jet fighters."

The Quarterhorse Mk 1 signals the start of a series of uncrewed aircraft in Hermeus' iterative development plan. The company's pioneering approach emphasizes rapid prototyping, leading to well-managed technical risks.

As the team examines data and applies lessons learned, they're busy building the Quarterhorse Mk 2 at their headquarters in Atlanta. This high-Mach aircraft, as large as an F-16, is designed to drug test uncrewed supersonic flight. It's on track to take its first flight late this year.

Hermeus, a venture capital-funded company, is on a mission to revolutionize aviation, aiming for supersonic and hypersonic aircraft that can deliver breakthroughs at the speed of innovation, reminiscent of the 1950s.

For more information, reach out to Melissa Price at Griffin Communications Group.

Sources:

[1] Hermeus, Inc., Quarterhorse Mk 1 Flight, Press Release, Business Wire, 6 July 2022, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220706005548/en/Hermeus-Flies-Quarterhorse-Mk-1-Aircraft

[2] Hermeus, Inc., Our Work ethos, About, https://hermeus.com/about

[3] Hermeus, Inc., Quarterhorse, About, https://hermeus.com/technology

[4] Pratt & Whitney, F100-229 turbofan, Tech Data, https://www.td.com/product/data/pratt--whitney/f/f100-229-aaaaaaaa/prodid=44598334&largest=1&lang=en_CA&stage=all_prod_ps_photos

"The successful flight of the Quarterhorse Mk 1 has brought cloud-like excitement to the space-and-astronomy community, as it showcases a remarkable step in the realm of aerospace and defense technology."
"The remarkable performance of the Quarterhorse Mk 1 aircraft has sparked news in the finance industry, with investors seeing potential signs of a lucrative return on investment for companies like Hermeus."
"The Quarterhorse series, a product of Hermeus' relentless pursuit of high-Mach aircraft, is set to create ripples in the science community, challenging the traditional understanding of flight dynamics and speed."
"As the Quarterhorse Mk 2 takes shape at Hermeus' headquarters in Atlanta, the industry takes notice, curious about the potential impact this aircraft could have on the performance and capability of uncrewed supersonic flight."