Paradoxal / Hypersonic Aircraft
Paradoxal / Hypersonic Aircraft from Juan Garcia Mansilla
Paradoxal / Hypersonic Aircraft

The Paradoxal is a Hypersonic Sub-Orbital Aircraft Concept designed for Imaginactive.
This was a very ambitious project that involved numerous scientists and engineers..even some from NASA. They helped define the principles that could govern such an aircraft. I merely gave those notions form.
It features a dual engine system called R4E that delivers a 2 Stage journey:
Stage 1 is an acceleration to Mach 3 using air breathing engines, climbing to 60,000 ft. Then Stage 2 kicks in, liquid oxygen is injected into the exhaust boosting the aircraft to Mach 5 and beyond, still climbing in altitude towards the edge of the stratosphere.

Once at the top of it's parabolic journey, the Paradoxal can glide over the edge of space and its passengers enjoy a one of a kind experience..while rushing to their destination, that is. Sidney to LA aboard this bad boy would be 3 hours of flight time.

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To counter the heating effects of such friction and speed, a cooling system was invented by NASA engineers. It's called LPM (Long Penetration Mode). It involves injecting compressed air along the leading edge of all the aircraft (hence it's shape, wIth one long continuous edge) and thus cooling its surfaces. Also, the aircraft features retractable fins that hide away during the high friction portion of the journey. To accommodate the LPM cooling system, the aircraft required a continuous leading edge. Thus its V shape.
The side view shows a clear inspiration in nature, falcons in flight have a very similar shape.
Here the retractable fins are seen hidden away and the front canopy closed up so as to withstand the tremendous heat and friction that comes with high speeds.
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Paradoxal / Hypersonic Aircraft

The Paradoxal is a Hypersonic Sub-Orbital Aircraft Concept designed for Imaginactive.
This was a very ambitious project that involved numerous scientists and engineers..even some from NASA. They helped define the principles that could govern such an aircraft. I merely gave those notions form.
It features a dual engine system called R4E that delivers a 2 Stage journey:
Stage 1 is an acceleration to Mach 3 using air breathing engines, climbing to 60,000 ft. Then Stage 2 kicks in, liquid oxygen is injected into the exhaust boosting the aircraft to Mach 5 and beyond, still climbing in altitude towards the edge of the stratosphere.

Once at the top of it's parabolic journey, the Paradoxal can glide over the edge of space and its passengers enjoy a one of a kind experience..while rushing to their destination, that is. Sidney to LA aboard this bad boy would be 3 hours of flight time.

View Website
Juan Garcia Mansilla
Industrial & Concept Designer Buenos Aires, Argentina