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The SR-72 "Darkstar" is billed as the next leap in hypersonic aviation - a rumored follow-up to the SR-71 Blackbird that could reach about Mach 6 (roughly 7,400 km/h). Built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, the craft is said to be capable of flying from New York to Los Angeles in under an hour. Rather than a conventional jet engine, the SR-72 reportedly employs a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) powerplant that pairs a turbofan for takeoff with a scramjet for hypersonic cruise, enabling a continuous shift from subsonic to hypersonic speeds - a milestone no operational aircraft has yet achieved. Its stealthy airframe features sharp angles and heat-tolerant materials designed to survive temperatures above 1,000°C. Lockheed Martin has kept details scarce, but industry sources argue the SR-72 could transform reconnaissance and strike roles and potentially aid access to space, signaling a move toward practical hypersonic travel.