Hypersonic aircraft shatters aviation records

[n2doc]

May 27, 2010


An aircraft resembling a large bodyboard detached from a flying B-52 bomber and then shot across the Pacific on Wednesday at more than 3,500 mph, shattering aviation records and reigniting decades-long efforts to develop a vehicle that could travel faster than a speeding bullet.

The unmanned X-51 WaveRider, powered by an air-breathing hypersonic engine that has virtually no moving parts, was launched midair off the coast near Point Mugu. It sped westward for 200 seconds before plunging into the ocean as planned. Previous attempts at hypersonic flights lasted no more than 10 seconds.

"Everything went very well for a first flight," said Charlie Brink, the X-51 program manager for the Air Force. "For things to go off the way they did, we're confident this technology has a bright future."

Since the 1960s, the Air Force has been flirting with hypersonic technology, which can propel vehicles at a velocity that cannot be achieved from traditional turbine-powered jet engines.


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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hypersonic-20100527,0,764506.story

[Stuart G]

1. K and R

[ShortnFiery]

2. Excellent. Our elderly poor are eating cat food and our schools are falling apart,

but by GAWD the USA has the fastest damn aircraft and war machines on this entire planet!

[Scuba]

3. Just what we need. Another weapon.

Our military is already larger than the next 11 combined, 10 of which are allies.

This money could have been used to help the American people, but it went to the American war machine instead.

[EnviroBat]

4. Awesome! Now we'll be able to deliver deadly ordinance

at twice the speed! I'm so damn proud of my country...

[Robb]

5. Pearl-clutchers above notwithstanding, this is some neat engineering.

A little less than Mach 5. Not too shabby.

To be fair, the "speeding bullet" thing was already shattered by the SR-71, an airframe with which I am somewhat familiar. ;)

[msongs]

6. lol a "christian" nation spending its resources on war while its people live under the freeways nt

[proteus_lives]

8. We're not a Christian nation.

Despite the wishes of some.

[hobbit709]

7. SR71 was a MANNED aircraft that flew faster than a speeding bullet.

[tammywammy]

9. It's on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZUwKX3_uE4

I got this in an email this morning.

Oh and recommended, cause the video's pretty cool.