The multinational company Dawn Aerospace, based in New Zealand, announced that its experimental aircraft Mk-II Aurora successfully completed its first supersonic flight on November 12, 2024. Piloted by Brazilian Iagho Amaral, Aurora reached Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 82,500 feet (25 kilometers), becoming the first civil aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde.
The historic flight took place at Glentanner Aerodrome, located near Mount Aoraki Cook in New Zealand. In addition to meeting its initial speed and altitude objectives, the aircraft set a world record by reaching an altitude of 20 kilometers from ground level in just 118.6 seconds, surpassing the previous record by 4.2 seconds, achieved by a modified F-15, known as the ‘Streak Eagle,’ in the 1970s.
As explained by Dawn Aerospace’s CEO, Stefan Powell, this achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of high-performance aircraft. The Mk-II Aurora prototype is designed to fly up to 100 kilometers in altitude, the so-called «edge of space» — also known as the Karman Line — and perform two flights daily in this category. During these missions, it is expected to reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 during ascent and reentry, thanks to its pure rocket propulsion system, which delivers a thrust-to-weight ratio 20 times greater than conventional jet engines.
According to a report from our associated outlet Aeroin, Dawn Aerospace highlighted New Zealand’s key role in the development of this project. With vast open skies and testing zones in the South Pacific, the country is well-positioned to lead advanced aerospace research, including the development of hypersonic technology. Powell expressed his gratitude to the New Zealand government and its people for their support in achieving this milestone.
«We look forward to continuing our collaboration with international customers, the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre, and the New Zealand Space Agency as we expand our capabilities and move towards commercial operations,» Powell stated.
