Story ID: 
Russian Researchers Mull Stratospheric Supersonic Bizjet
By: Eugene Gerden
Caption: Russion researchers have proposed the stratolet—an intercontinental supersonic aircraft designed for flights in the stratosphere.
Word Count: 177
Researchers from the Russian Tupolev Kazan National Research Technical University have proposed the stratolet—an intercontinental supersonic aircraft designed for flights in the stratosphere. One of its proposed uses is as a business aircraft.

According to conceptual drawings, the aircraft would have a fuselage with wings and horizontal control surfaces at the front and rear. It would also be equipped with a combined rocket or air-rocket engine running on oxygen, as well as a recoverable upper stage with two gas turbine engines and engine cowling. Performance characteristics of the aircraft have not yet been disclosed.

The stratolet shares some similarities with the British-led Skylon project, which is a reusable unmanned spacecraft from Reaction Engines that is scheduled to be flown mid-decade. But the Russian researchers claim their design will have higher efficiency, increased payload, and faster takeoff thanks to its two-stage flight concept, which reduces weight during the second stage. At the same time, the oval wing of the booster block will increase the aircraft’s lift and shorten takeoff time.