Hypersonic scramjet goes 3000+
 

Anybody else sentimental for the time when news like this was a big deal?
I know it's just a weapon, now, not a stepping stone to a better future, but it rekindled a spark in me - a reminder of when the future was all rockets and moon launches and the latest and greatest spaceships in the world and the trickle down to a fantastic way of life.

3,000 mph at 60,000 feet: Experimental Air Force aircraft goes hypersonic - Washington Times

"LOS ANGELES — An experimental, unmanned aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force went hypersonic during a test off the Southern California coast, traveling at more than 3,000 mph, the Air Force said Friday.

The X-51A WaveRider flew for more than three minutes under power from its exotic scramjet engine and hit a speed of Mach 5.1, or more than five times the speed of sound."

Major breakthrough in this technology - way cool!

E ticket?

At least it didn't crash this time....

I'm impressed...

I'd consider that a "missle" instead of an "aircraft"...

If it intended for military bombing or satelite attack, back in WW2 there was a concept project for a plane which would skip upon the density of the upper statosphere.
Amerika Bomber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1367691280.jpg

Meh. A well prepped 944 can do that.

At 60,000 feet.

Only 60,000 feet? Amatures. I cruise at 90.... ;)

3,000 mph?

http://www.raptorsrepublic.com/wp-co...08/meh_cat.jpg


Is this news because it was unmanned?

I'm more excited about Solar Impulse going 45 MPH.

That pic will be recycled. :D

Speed of sound varies, but is usually taken at 330m/s

1m/s= 2.237mph
330m/s= 738.21mph(mach1)

so mach 5 = 5*738.21
mach 5= 3691.05mph

The speed of sound varies with altitude.

File:Comparison US standard atmosphere 1962.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seriously - Way cool. A breakthrough for this technology. They getting close to X-15 speeds. Very impressive for an air-breathing engine.

But then, I'm a serious aerospace technology geek (and former rocket scientist - guidance system division).

Oi....hence my opening comment........

I figured this flight would've been a walk in the park. :D

That was very interesting.
Do you know the dimensions?
What erks me is that the craft is expendable and left to dissolve in the ocean.
Thanks for posting that!

Unmanned?

What's the fun in that?

It would "erk" me more is to spend more than the aircraft is worth to retrieve it.

Greetings brother. I'm a former rocket scientist myself. Structural materials.