California-based Astro Mechanica is developing the world’s first turboelectric adaptive jet engine.
By Zach Vasile
- United Airlines Ventures is investing in Astro Mechanica, a startup developing supersonic flight technology.
- Astro Mechanica’s Duality engine uses hybrid electrical architecture for efficient supersonic flight, adaptable across various speeds.
- The goal is to create economically viable supersonic transpacific air travel.
- The investment reflects confidence in Astro Mechanica’s technology from United Airlines and other prominent investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Lowercarbon Capital.
United’s venture capital arm is investing in a vertically integrated aerospace startup developing engines and airframes capable of supersonic flight.
United Airlines Ventures announced Wednesday that it is backing San Francisco-based Astro Mechanica, whose proprietary Duality engine will use hybrid electrical architecture to improve performance. The company’s ultimate goal is to use Duality and advanced airframe technology to make supersonic transportation as efficient and economically viable as present-day commercial air travel.
“Astro Mechanica is developing an adaptive engine concept for strategic military and commercial applications, addressing the challenging yet worthwhile pursuit of supersonic flight,” said Mukul Hariharan, managing partner at United Airlines Ventures. “UAV is excited to join Astro Mechanica’s renowned investment partners to support its exceptional management team as they advance their engine technology and progress towards their first aircraft prototype.”
Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
According to Astro Mechanica, Duality will incorporate electric motors that keep the engine efficient from takeoff to over Mach 3. The technology allows the powerplant to behave like a turbofan at slower speeds, a turbojet at faster speeds just below supersonic, and a ramjet at very high supersonic speeds.
The company hopes to use Duality to power the first supersonic aircraft capable of transpacific flight.
“We are excited to form this relationship with United Airlines Ventures,” said Astro Mechanica founder and CEO Ian Brooke. “This investment reflects strong conviction in Astro Mechanica from an experienced and credible industry leader, and we appreciated UAV’s deep technical grasp of our novel high-speed propulsion technologies.”
Astro Mechanica was formed in 2021. According to Axios, its other prominent investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Lowercarbon Capital, and Giant Step.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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