Air Transport

^{EMMA KELLY / PERTH}

The University of Queensland’s Centre for Hypersonics has received an A$8.5 million ($7 million) funding boost from Boeing, the Queensland government, the Australian Research Council and an unidentified contributor.

The Queensland government is contributing A$2 million and Boeing is giving A$2.03 million over three years. The funds will advance scramjet prototypes and enable flight tests at speeds of over Mach 8, says the university.

“Our collaborative efforts could very well open new frontiers in aerospace globally,” says Boeing Phantom Works president Robert Krieger.

Collaboration details are still being finalised, but designing and flight testing advanced hypersonic aerodynamic and propulsion technologies will feature. Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation will also help.

The collaboration is expected to include development of a scramjet capable of 7-10min of free flight at Mach 10.