Ever fancied popping out to do some shopping in Fifth Avenue but put off by the long-haul flight from London to the east coast of the United States of America?

Perhaps on a whim decided to catch a Broadway show, but your plans were scuppered due to the 3,470 mile distance from the capital to New York.

Well those irritating pitfalls may become a thing of the past thanks to Canadian engineer Charles Bombardier.

His ambitious design features a rocket powered jet that claims to go from London to New York in an astonishing 20 minutes.

The new concept jet could fly 12 times faster than the concorde

The new "antipode" concept would travel at speeds of 20,000kmh (12,430mph) which is 12 times faster than the concorde.

It could carry up to 10 passengers from London to New York in just 20 minutes.

Bombardier, who works at works at ImaginActiv, said: "I wanted to create an aircraft concept capable of reaching its antipode, or diametrical opposite, as fast as possible."

London to New York in 20 minutes? (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

How would it work?

The Antipode jet would be launched by a magnetic field pushing it along two conductive railings.

Once airborne, liquid-oxygen or kerosene rockets would fire, launching the plane further into the sky and breaking the sound barrier.

From there, scramjet engines would kick in to propel the jet faster than any airborne people carrier.

Liquid-oxygen or kerosene rockets would fire to launch the plane further into the sky

Special nozzles in the nose and wings would then be used to channel air through the aircraft for cooling purposes.

Quite simple then...

However, excited travellers may have to wait a few years for even the prototype to be made, not to mention a costly way to get to the Big Apple.

Bombardier has previously designed the Skreemr concept plane revealed in October last year, which would fly five times faster than the concorde.

It could be a few years before a prototype is released. Pic: Charles Bombardier

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