Hermeus has been awarded a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SACEC) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its unmanned Quarterhorse Mk 21 aircraft. This certification marks a significant milestone following a year-long collaboration between Hermeus and the FAA, enabling the company to commence its flight-test campaign aimed at achieving supersonic flight.
The Quarterhorse Mk 21 is the largest and most advanced aircraft in Hermeus' development programme, which focuses on high-speed flight by building and testing progressively faster aircraft. Each iteration of the aircraft is designed to generate data that informs the design of subsequent models. Jay Wagemann, Hermeus' Director of Mission Operations, expressed gratitude for the FAA's rigorous inspection process, stating, "Their team conducted a rigorous inspection and gained real confidence in the aircraft."
Flight testing for the Quarterhorse Mk 21 is currently underway at Spaceport America in New Mexico, within the White Sands Missile Range airspace. The unmanned aircraft will be tested at progressively higher altitudes and speeds, pushing the boundaries of high-speed flight.
Hermeus is committed to reclaiming the lost art of rapid prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in history. By prioritising hardware iteration over traditional development cycles, the company aims to deliver high-speed systems that meet the demands of modern warfare. The Quarterhorse programme is a registered trademark of Hermeus Corporation
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
