Craaaaaazy Fast......13,000 mph ?

[Henry Schmidt]

The ride if a lifetime......
Experimental Aircraft to Go From Zero to 13,000 in Hypersonic Test Launch - FoxNews.com

[cstreit]

The goal of the project is to eventually enable the U.S. military to strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour.

I imagine at those speeds you wouldn't even need a warhead. The mass-energy alone would cause huge destruction. A non-nuclear non-explosive solution.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That's the concept behind a rail-gun, which at least one USN ship is using now.

[Henry Schmidt]

How do you guys see the "ultimate thrill ride" and talk about the next generation weapon ?

[kach22i]

Faaaaaaaaast glider.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by Henry Schmidt

How do you guys see the "ultimate thrill ride" and talk about the next generation weapon ?

probably because of this quote:

"The goal of the project is to eventually enable the U.S. military to strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour."

it is the next generation weapon.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by Henry Schmidt

How do you guys see the "ultimate thrill ride" and talk about the next generation weapon ?

'cause I read the article?

You go on that thrill ride there Mr. Schmidt, just be sure to jump out before impact. Here is another ride just like that...

[cashflyer]

When I read the title, I was sure this would be about a 911 Targa.

[gtc]

We should stop throwing money at these sorts of things, when we have not yet fully developed the "Directed Energy Sea Mammals" program.

[Evans, Marv]

Great project, but unfortunately my first thought was to wonder if the Chinese have already stolen the data from it. My second thought was to wonder how it would make it back home from the mission.

[Brando]

That's all I gotta say.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

When I read the title, I was sure this would be about a 911 Targa.

a well set up Targa might I add!

[M.D. Holloway]

If they are publishing it now, the chances that this thing has flown before 1995 are very good...

[WolfeMacleod]

It's got one more chance to maintain control. The first, I've read, failed and was lost.
If this one fails, the project is scrapped indefinitely.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I believe you're thinking about the SCRAMjet prototype that crashed off Australia a few months ago... This is completely different.

[A930Rocket]

Wasn't that cancelled?

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

That's the concept behind a rail-gun, which at least one USN ship is using now.

[red-beard]

What is the point of the project? We can already do a ballastic missle anyplace in less time. Or is the intention of the glider to carry people/equipment and land?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What is the point of the project? We can already do a ballastic missle anyplace in less time. Or is the intention of the glider to carry people/equipment and land?

+1, a faster bullet wouldn't have helped us nail Osama any sooner. Now, if I could fly to visit relatives Japan in an hour in one of those things, sign me up. No need to land, just pitch me out the bay door with a good chute.

[looneybin]

just heard it lost contact after launch - too bad, it would have been cool to go for a ride

[afterburn 549]

I understand Henry"s Need for speed ..would be a thrill. !!!!
But smarter people thenme must know to actually get anywhere in this place we are going to have to achieve Speed of Light. Period.
Or we are as as fast as slugs crawling from The East coast to the West Coast..In fact in "scale" they would be FASTER !!
I am sure somewhere someone is working on it...I sure cant figure it out (Light Speed)