Elon Musk’s Starlink is revolutionizing connectivity in the skies, helping supersonic and hypersonic planes take flight. While commercial airlines deliberate over adopting high-speed Starlink internet, manufacturers of next-generation aircraft are already integrating the service into their prototypes.
The CEOs of two cutting-edge aviation startups, Hermeus and Boom Supersonic, have verified that their prototype aircraft use Starlink, which represents a significant advancement in aerospace technology.
SpaceX’s internet service, Starlink, provides high-speed internet to more than 40 nations through an expanding constellation of more than 3,500 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Starlink is proven useful in specialist industries including the aviation and maritime sectors in addition to regular customer applications.
Hermeus, based in Atlanta, is developing Halcyon, a hypersonic passenger aircraft, and Darkhorse, a military-focused uncrewed jet. For its test bed aircraft, the Quarterhorse Mk1, Starlink enables remote operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). CEO AJ Piplica revealed that Starlink terminals were integrated and tested on Mk1 in just 17 days—a process that typically spans years with conventional SATCOM systems. The Mk1 successfully completed taxiing tests using Starlink, with its maiden flight expected in 2025.
Boom Supersonic, known for its XB-1 supersonic prototype, also utilizes Starlink. The company retrofitted a T-38 chase aircraft with a Starlink terminal, using a custom 3D-printed mount. The T-38 provided real-time data during XB-1’s test flights, achieving speeds of 0.95 Mach—perhaps a first for Starlink. CEO Blake Scholl praised the quick installation process, completed in just 15 days.
Remarkably, these advancements unfolded without public comment from Musk, even though details were shared on X (formerly Twitter). Starlink’s seamless integration demonstrates its potential to reshape aerospace communication, underscoring SpaceX’s role in pioneering both internet services and aviation. With these successes, Starlink is not only connecting the world but propelling the future of flight.