New technology is now in development that could power flights to New York from the UK which would take just an hour, with Australia becoming just a four-hour journey.
UK company Reaction Engines is developing a Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE), which could allow planes to reach Mach 5.4.
SABRE engines are designed to be as fast as a rocket, and as efficient as a jet and they could be in use by the 2030s, reports The Mirror .
Graham Turnock, CEO of UK Space Agency, said: "When we have brought the SABRE rocket engine to fruition, that may enable us to get to Australia in perhaps as little as four hours."
Reaction Engines air-breathing rocket engine has already successfully passed a first phase of high-temperature testing.
Mark Thomas, Chief Executive at Reaction Engines, said: "This is a hugely significant milestone which has seen Reaction Engines’ proprietary precooler technology achieve unparalleled heat transfer performance.
"The HTX test article met all test objectives and the successful initial tests highlight how our precooler delivers world-leading heat transfer capabilities at low weight and compact size.
"This provides an important validation of our heat exchanger and thermal management technology portfolio which has application across emerging areas such as very high-speed flight, hybrid electric aviation and integrated vehicle thermal management."
