Nasa Scramjet Smashes Speed Record
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Nasa Scramjet Smashes Speed Record
Are we pilots doomed as a species?
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Nasa Scramjet Smashes Speed Record
http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk//news/a...28034209990010
Three years after its first test flight ended in an explosion, Nasa successfully launched an experimental jet that the agency believes reached a record-setting speed of about 5,000mph.
The unpiloted X-43A made an 11-second powered flight, then went through some twists and turns during a six-minute glide before plunging into the Pacific Ocean about 400 miles off the California coast.
It was fun all the way to Mach 7, said Joel Sitz, project manager at Nasa's Dryden Flight Research Centre.
Flight engineer Lawrence Huebner said preliminary data indicated the needle-nosed jet reached a maximum speed of slightly over seven times the speed of sound, or about 5,000 mph, after a rocket boosted it to about 3,500 mph.
Huebner said it was the first time an air-breathing jet had ever travelled so fast. The rocket-powered X-15 reached Mach 6.7 in 1967.
It's a great way to end, certainly all the sweeter because of the challenges we've had to step up to and overcome through the life of this project, said Griffin Corpening, Dryden's chief engineer on the project.
The first X-43A flight ended in failure on June 2, 2001, after the modified Pegasus rocket used to accelerate the plane veered off course and was detonated.
An investigation board found pre-flight analyses failed to predict how the rocket would perform, leaving its control system unable to maintain stable flight.
Nasa built the X-43A under a 250 million dollar (£140 million) programme to develop and test an exotic type of engine called a supersonic-combustion ramjet, or scramjet.
In theory, the air-breathing engine could propel an airplane to speeds of Mach 7 or faster, enabling around-the-world flights that would take several hours.
The Pentagon is also working on the technology, which its eyeing for use in bombers that quickly could reach targets anywhere on the globe.
The 12ft long, 2,800lb X-43A was mounted on a Pegasus rocket booster and carried to an altitude of 40,000ft by a modified B-52 bomber, which took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert.
A few seconds after the craft was dropped, the rocket flared, sending the jet skyward on a streak of flame and light.
At about 100,000ft, the rocket dropped away. The scramjet took over, using up about two pounds of gaseous hydrogen fuel before gliding.
Applause rang out in the control centre at Dryden Flight Research Centre at Edwards. Technological hurdles mean it will be decades before such a plane could enter service.
And Nasa's role in developing the technology remains in doubt, as the agency recently cut funding for more advanced versions of the X-43A.
I can't paste the picture of this
I hope this is what you wanted. Heliport
Nasa Scramjet Smashes Speed Record
http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk//news/a...28034209990010
Three years after its first test flight ended in an explosion, Nasa successfully launched an experimental jet that the agency believes reached a record-setting speed of about 5,000mph.
The unpiloted X-43A made an 11-second powered flight, then went through some twists and turns during a six-minute glide before plunging into the Pacific Ocean about 400 miles off the California coast.
It was fun all the way to Mach 7, said Joel Sitz, project manager at Nasa's Dryden Flight Research Centre.
Flight engineer Lawrence Huebner said preliminary data indicated the needle-nosed jet reached a maximum speed of slightly over seven times the speed of sound, or about 5,000 mph, after a rocket boosted it to about 3,500 mph.
Huebner said it was the first time an air-breathing jet had ever travelled so fast. The rocket-powered X-15 reached Mach 6.7 in 1967.
It's a great way to end, certainly all the sweeter because of the challenges we've had to step up to and overcome through the life of this project, said Griffin Corpening, Dryden's chief engineer on the project.
The first X-43A flight ended in failure on June 2, 2001, after the modified Pegasus rocket used to accelerate the plane veered off course and was detonated.
An investigation board found pre-flight analyses failed to predict how the rocket would perform, leaving its control system unable to maintain stable flight.
Nasa built the X-43A under a 250 million dollar (£140 million) programme to develop and test an exotic type of engine called a supersonic-combustion ramjet, or scramjet.
In theory, the air-breathing engine could propel an airplane to speeds of Mach 7 or faster, enabling around-the-world flights that would take several hours.
The Pentagon is also working on the technology, which its eyeing for use in bombers that quickly could reach targets anywhere on the globe.
The 12ft long, 2,800lb X-43A was mounted on a Pegasus rocket booster and carried to an altitude of 40,000ft by a modified B-52 bomber, which took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert.
A few seconds after the craft was dropped, the rocket flared, sending the jet skyward on a streak of flame and light.
At about 100,000ft, the rocket dropped away. The scramjet took over, using up about two pounds of gaseous hydrogen fuel before gliding.
Applause rang out in the control centre at Dryden Flight Research Centre at Edwards. Technological hurdles mean it will be decades before such a plane could enter service.
And Nasa's role in developing the technology remains in doubt, as the agency recently cut funding for more advanced versions of the X-43A.
Already done in Australia in 2002.
Here's a link -> http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.phtml?article=3469
It hit mach 7.6.
Here's a link -> http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.phtml?article=3469
It hit mach 7.6.
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18-Wheeler, I don't think it's a fair comparison.
The HyShot did not accelerate under its own power. It is merely an attempt to achieve combustion in supersonic flow, riding on a rocket.
The Russians have been doing this during the early 90's.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/DTRS/1996/PDF/H-2115.pdf
Nothing really new there.
In the case of the X-43A, the vehicle was actually generating thrust, and flew autonomously.
--Machdiamond
The HyShot did not accelerate under its own power. It is merely an attempt to achieve combustion in supersonic flow, riding on a rocket.
The Russians have been doing this during the early 90's.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/DTRS/1996/PDF/H-2115.pdf
Nothing really new there.
In the case of the X-43A, the vehicle was actually generating thrust, and flew autonomously.
--Machdiamond
Machdiamond,
I personally know the chief engineer on the Australian .Hyshot project, my understanding is that their craft did accelerate under its own power to about 2.2 km/sec (M7.6).
This was a worlds first, the US failed just days prior.
I read the report you linked, it was for proposed test, I agree many people have proposed to fly scramjet tests, however the Hyshot was the first craft I am aware of to validate computational and shock tunnel results in flight.
Hypersonic flight within the atmosphere by an air breathing engine is not common run of the mill news, that’s why this story made the press to start with, this new one flying autonomously is news worthy.
Well done guys!
P.S. Hypersonic controlled flight is not uncommon, the space shuttle does it every time its returns to earth, that still makes the news.
I personally know the chief engineer on the Australian .Hyshot project, my understanding is that their craft did accelerate under its own power to about 2.2 km/sec (M7.6).
This was a worlds first, the US failed just days prior.
I read the report you linked, it was for proposed test, I agree many people have proposed to fly scramjet tests, however the Hyshot was the first craft I am aware of to validate computational and shock tunnel results in flight.
Hypersonic flight within the atmosphere by an air breathing engine is not common run of the mill news, that’s why this story made the press to start with, this new one flying autonomously is news worthy.
Well done guys!
P.S. Hypersonic controlled flight is not uncommon, the space shuttle does it every time its returns to earth, that still makes the news.
Looks like the Americans won the debrief.
Seriously, two different teams have both achieved some very impressive things with technology that could revolutionise parts of military and transport aviation in decades to come. Whether it will of-course, remains to be seen.
I don't think it'll put pilots out of work, but it might in the long term change the nature of some pilots jobs - but that's been happening constantly due to technology changes since about 1912 anyway and needs understanding rather than panicking about.
G
Seriously, two different teams have both achieved some very impressive things with technology that could revolutionise parts of military and transport aviation in decades to come. Whether it will of-course, remains to be seen.
I don't think it'll put pilots out of work, but it might in the long term change the nature of some pilots jobs - but that's been happening constantly due to technology changes since about 1912 anyway and needs understanding rather than panicking about.
G
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P.S. Hypersonic controlled flight is not uncommon, the space shuttle does it every time its returns to earth, that still makes the news
Can't say I agree with that. I would prefer to call it a controlled fall, or even a controlled crash?!?! The pilot is merely steering it in the correct direction, he has no throttle to open if he needs a bit of extra power!
Can't say I agree with that. I would prefer to call it a controlled fall, or even a controlled crash?!?! The pilot is merely steering it in the correct direction, he has no throttle to open if he needs a bit of extra power!
TightYorksherMan
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Jet that could fly to Australia in two hours
Self Loathing Froggy
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FlyboyBen
Would you mean that there are thousands of gliders flying uncontrolled around the world ?
You are scaring me, I should quit gliding right now
Are you aware that two chaps flew 2174.5 km in straight line and more 3009 km in closed circuit, sans noise generator ?
who cares if he is high enough and has a way to control energy dissipation, namely airbrakes or similar.
Would you mean that there are thousands of gliders flying uncontrolled around the world ?
You are scaring me, I should quit gliding right now
Are you aware that two chaps flew 2174.5 km in straight line and more 3009 km in closed circuit, sans noise generator ?
he has no throttle to open if he needs a bit of extra power
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Jets that could fly to Australia in two hours
Mmmm ... well maybe but not in our lifetime methinks. A side-bar in the same story quotes the French GTV as doing 320 mph! Ah well, I guess a kilometre is the same as a mile to a journo. In recent years the Times and Sunday Times would have us believe that:
1: Russian designed jet-powered seaplanes were going to be built in Wales
2: Every UK airport would soon have many single-engine air taxis (Farnborough) sitting and just waiting for pax to arrive.
3: A US company was about to certificate and sell "flying cars" capable of 350kts, vertical take-off and landing & operation by folks without flying experience or training. It's all done by computers you know.
And to think that the great unwashed believe every word of it. bm
1: Russian designed jet-powered seaplanes were going to be built in Wales
2: Every UK airport would soon have many single-engine air taxis (Farnborough) sitting and just waiting for pax to arrive.
3: A US company was about to certificate and sell "flying cars" capable of 350kts, vertical take-off and landing & operation by folks without flying experience or training. It's all done by computers you know.
And to think that the great unwashed believe every word of it. bm
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Bre901,
I was trying to say that there was no real comparison between controlling what is effectively a shuttle falling out of the sky (I've never seen or heard about one trying to gain height on thermals!!!) with this scramjet flying at Mach 7 under it's own steam.
I am fully aware how gliders work having gained many hours myself as a youngster.
Some people on this website are far to padantic and nit-picky!!!!
CHILL OUT!
I was trying to say that there was no real comparison between controlling what is effectively a shuttle falling out of the sky (I've never seen or heard about one trying to gain height on thermals!!!) with this scramjet flying at Mach 7 under it's own steam.
I am fully aware how gliders work having gained many hours myself as a youngster.
Some people on this website are far to padantic and nit-picky!!!!
CHILL OUT!
Flyboyben,
Umm, the shuttle gets into space under its own power .... it does "throttle up" and roll on its way into space.
I take my hat off to NASA for this flight, and the space shuttle, I find them amazing pieces of technology.
The X43 also "glided back" to earth...not sure what you point is here...
For you info, this is a general accepted definition of the term flight ...
The motion of an object in or through a medium, especially through the earth's atmosphere or through space.
An instance of such motion.
The distance covered in such motion.
The act or process of flying through the air by means of wings.
The ability to fly.
A swift passage or movement.
A scheduled airline run or trip.
A group, especially of birds or aircraft, flying together.
A number of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force forming a subdivision of a squadron.
A round of competition, as in a sports tournament.
An exuberant or transcendent effort or display
A series of stairs rising from one landing to another.
Umm, the shuttle gets into space under its own power .... it does "throttle up" and roll on its way into space.
I take my hat off to NASA for this flight, and the space shuttle, I find them amazing pieces of technology.
The X43 also "glided back" to earth...not sure what you point is here...
For you info, this is a general accepted definition of the term flight ...
The motion of an object in or through a medium, especially through the earth's atmosphere or through space.
An instance of such motion.
The distance covered in such motion.
The act or process of flying through the air by means of wings.
The ability to fly.
A swift passage or movement.
A scheduled airline run or trip.
A group, especially of birds or aircraft, flying together.
A number of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force forming a subdivision of a squadron.
A round of competition, as in a sports tournament.
An exuberant or transcendent effort or display
A series of stairs rising from one landing to another.
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BoeingMEL
Journos may know nothing about flying, but the TGV figures are correct!
"On 18 May, 1990, the last scheduled day of testing, the TGV Atlantique hit a top speed of 515.3 km/h (320.3 mph), setting a new world speed record"
Source: h2g2
Journos may know nothing about flying, but the TGV figures are correct!
"On 18 May, 1990, the last scheduled day of testing, the TGV Atlantique hit a top speed of 515.3 km/h (320.3 mph), setting a new world speed record"
Source: h2g2