Quote:
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If the high-risk flight is successful, it will mark the first time an exotic jet engine, called a supersonic-combustion ramjet or scramjet, has propelled a plane at so-called hypersonic speeds.
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First!?. . .hmmm. . .are they sure about that?
Kelly Johnsons brilliance put together a scram jet, way back. Whether it was hypersonic (+mach5) or not is classified.
However, from this image someone ought to easily figure its design speed.
. . . this looks like it would have to fit in a 15° mach-cone (30° from wing edge to edge)
So, M=1/(sin15°) =3.86 . . .considering I measured the angle, there, with a 30-60-angle (not being too accurate) I would say the design speed, of the D12 drone, was likely mach4.
hmmm, and we're just now looking at breaking the scramjet/hypersonic speed threashold? . . .seems we've been slacking for the last 30 years!