Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora Cleared for Supersonic Flight Tests

New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority grants certification for unlimited speed and high-altitude operations.

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora will undergo a series of test flights aiming to reach Mach 1.1 and 70,000 feet.
The certification allows the Mk-II Aurora to operate beyond visual line of sight and outside restricted airspace.
This will be the first privately funded UAV to break the sound barrier while taking off and landing on a runway.
Dawn Aerospace plans to demonstrate rapid reusability with two flights per day during the test campaign.
The Mk-II Aurora aims to support microgravity missions, high-speed flight research, and Earth observation.