New hypersonic test facility opens in Florida

Located at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, HEAT (High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test Facility) will enable Hermeus to create the conditions required for high-supersonic and low-hypersonic flight modelling. The firm will apply continuous high flow rate, high enthalpy and low-pressure to test its Chimera engine - which uses a combined cycle turbine and ramjet to hit speeds up to Mach 5.

“The United States is lacking in the capability to rapidly and economically test air-breathing hypersonic engines,” he said.

“The few test facilities available have years-long waitlists and are prohibitively expensive. The commercially operated testing services that we will offer at our HEAT facility are more economical and responsive to dynamic test requirements and are better suited to match the ever-changing needs of the warfighter.”

According to Hermeus, HEAT will be built in phases, with initial sea-level static engine tests starting before the end of 2024. As a former Naval Air Station, Cecil Airport has significant test infrastructure already in place, including multiple test cells and an aircraft hush house which Hermeus will inherit.