How real is the hypersonic aircraft revolution?

By Miquel Ros, for CNN
6 minute read
Updated 5:28 AM EDT, Mon July 4, 2016
The race to build the aircraft of the future is on. Designs like these NASA concept planes developed with Boeing are on the drawing board, so when will they become a reality?
Where is the plane of the future? —
The race to build the aircraft of the future is on. Designs like these NASA concept planes developed with Boeing are on the drawing board, so when will they become a reality?
NASA/ Lillian Gipson
Many of today's designs wouldn't look out of place in the 1960s. Though packed with vastly improved technology, the new Boeing 737 MAX is similar in appearance to the 737-700 of 50 years ago.
New planes, old designs —
Many of today's designs wouldn't look out of place in the 1960s. Though packed with vastly improved technology, the new Boeing 737 MAX is similar in appearance to the 737-700 of 50 years ago.
Getty Images
Concorde, to date still the world's only supersonic scheduled passenger aircraft, was retired in 2003. No viable replacement is currently scheduled for service.
Concorde —
Concorde, to date still the world's only supersonic scheduled passenger aircraft, was retired in 2003. No viable replacement is currently scheduled for service.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
The Aerion Corporation's supersonic private jet is expected to enter service early in the next decade. It'll be able to carry up to 12 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.6.<br /> <br />
Aerion AS2 —
The Aerion Corporation's supersonic private jet is expected to enter service early in the next decade. It'll be able to carry up to 12 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.6.
Courtesy Aerion Supersonic
If realized, NASA's Low Boom Flight Demonstration Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) X-plane design will be part of a new generation of more efficient, quieter supersonic airliners. These could revive commercial supersonic air travel as a viable proposition.
QueSST —
If realized, NASA's Low Boom Flight Demonstration Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) X-plane design will be part of a new generation of more efficient, quieter supersonic airliners. These could revive commercial supersonic air travel as a viable proposition.
NASA/LOCKHEED MARTIN
The SUGAR program -- Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research -- has come up with innovative aerodynamic and propulsion solutions. These include an aircraft with eye-catching truss-braced wings and a hybrid gas-electric propulsion system.
Boeing's SUGAR program —
The SUGAR program -- Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research -- has come up with innovative aerodynamic and propulsion solutions. These include an aircraft with eye-catching truss-braced wings and a hybrid gas-electric propulsion system.
Courtesy Boeing
Airbus has created a depiction of what would be possible if all of the futuristic technologies envisaged by Airbus could be combined to create the ideal airliner.<br />
Airbus future aircraft concept —
Airbus has created a depiction of what would be possible if all of the futuristic technologies envisaged by Airbus could be combined to create the ideal airliner.
Courtesy Airbus
Some researchers are working on aircraft concepts capable of Mach 5 to 8 -- five to eight times faster than sound. Realistically these revolutionary concept aircraft are several decades away.
Lapcat —
Some researchers are working on aircraft concepts capable of Mach 5 to 8 -- five to eight times faster than sound. Realistically these revolutionary concept aircraft are several decades away.
Reaction Engines
The German Aerospace Center's ambitious SpaceLiner concept would work by reaching speeds of up to Mach 25, enough to travel from London to Australia in under 90 minutes.<br />
SpaceLiner —
The German Aerospace Center's ambitious SpaceLiner concept would work by reaching speeds of up to Mach 25, enough to travel from London to Australia in under 90 minutes.
Courtesy of the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Other wilder creations have also been envisioned. These include the Skreemr -- a jet launched from a magnetic rail gun at speeds of up to Mach 4.
Skreemr —
Other wilder creations have also been envisioned. These include the Skreemr -- a jet launched from a magnetic rail gun at speeds of up to Mach 4.
Ray Mattison/Courtesy Charles Bombardier
Another Charles Bombardier concept, the Antipode would use rocket boosters, a scramjet and advanced aerodynamics to enable it to fly between London and New York in 11 minutes.
Antipode —
Another Charles Bombardier concept, the Antipode would use rocket boosters, a scramjet and advanced aerodynamics to enable it to fly between London and New York in 11 minutes.
Abhishek Roy/Imaginactive