The first prototype of the hypersonic civil aircraft, called Hexa-Fly, designed by the European Space Agency (ESA), will be born in Italy. It is an aircraft capable of flying at eight times the speed of sound and capable, according to estimates, of connecting Rome and New York in just two hours. The first test flight is scheduled for 2026.

"Hypersonic aircraft represent the future in the long-haul commercial transport sector", declared the president of the Group, Roberto Rizzo, who explained how these aircraft are characterized by a complex aerodynamics capable of withstanding the high temperatures due to the return of flights at the edge of space, with powerful engines capable of propelling the vehicle up to eight times the speed of sound.

The aircraft will be built from 2024 by the Italian company Marotta, a manufacturer of high-precision components for civil aviation and defence. The SolidWorld company, specialized in design, and Vection Technologies, a company that promotes the digitization of companies, will collaborate. Hexa-Fly will be the result of complex digital simulations that mix virtual reality and the metaverse.