Rumors are circulating about an advanced hypersonic jet backed by Elon Musk that could potentially “reach the speed of light.” While this claim stretches the boundaries of physics, it underscores Musk’s ambition to push aviation technology toward unprecedented speeds.

In reality, while light-speed travel remains impossible under the laws of physics as we know them, Musk’s companies have been researching hypersonic speeds that would still represent a revolutionary leap forward. Reaching hypersonic speeds—generally defined as Mach 5 and above—is feasible with today’s technology, and Musk has hinted at plans to explore these limits with his advanced engineering teams.

The Quest for Hypersonic Speed: Redefining “Fast” in Aviation