Posted on 06/30/2015 1:54:10 PM PDT by Red Badger
The U.S. military is reportedly developing a hypersonic jet plane that could soar at up to five times the speed of sound — faster than a bullet, which generally travels at Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound.
The new hypersonic vehicle, which could take flight by 2023, builds upon research from a 2013 test flight of an experimental hypersonic vehicle, the X-51A Waverider, according to Military.com.
The $300 million X-51A program began in 2004. The program's final test flight occurred May 1, 2013, when the unmanned Waverider reached a top speed of Mach 5.1 (more than five times the speed of sound) in just over six minutes, before it was intentionally crashed into the Pacific Ocean. At the time, U.S. Air Force officials said the flight was the longest-ever for a hypersonic vehicle of its kind. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 7 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]
During the 2013 test flight, the hypersonic jet was released from a B-52H Stratofortress at an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,000 meters). After separation, the Waverider accelerated to Mach 4.8 in just 26 seconds, powered by a solid rocket booster. The hypersonic jet separated from the rocket at an altitude of 60,000 feet (18,300 m), eventually reaching Mach 5.1 with its air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet (or scramjet) engine.
"X-51 was really a proof of concept test. It showed that you could get a scram jet engine, launch it off an aircraft and it could go hypersonic," Mica Endsley, the Air Force's chief scientist, told Military.com. "It was able to go more than Mach 5 until it ran out of fuel. It was a very successful test of an airborne hypersonic weapons system."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
This Air Force illustration depicts the X-51A Waverider scramjet vehicle during hypersonic flight during its May 26, 2010 test. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne SJY61 scramjet engine, it is designed to ride on its own shockwave and accelerate to about Mach 6. Credit: U.S. Air Force
Better the California’s Bullet Train?
So it’s fast then?
It’ll probably be cheaper, by comparison..................
Pretty much, Mach 5 or better..................
Looks like an old Black and Decker Dustbuster with fins all grown up .
Don’t tell the commie-in-chief—I’m sure he will put a stop to it.
This is one E ticket ride.
Beats hyperloop and virgin spaceways
Scramjet do giddyup and boogie!!
Like a 442 or a 426.. Only speedier..
And what would be the mission of such an aircraft? Is the USAF trying to build a new version of the B-70 Valkyrie?
When you think that the SR71 introduced in 1966, could fly 2200 mph, this does not sound as impressive.
Dr. Baronovich: “You must think in Russian.”
He won’t know about it unless ESPN reports on it.
The X-51A Soars to New Heights
http://www.boeing.com/features/2013/05/bds-x51-05-03-13.page
Video of the 2013 test at the link
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, illegal aliens invade at 1/200th the speed of sound.
Big deal, the Space Shuttle is much faster I know this because CNN told me so.
Active Duty ping.
So if it fires a bullet or missile does it catch and pass it? 8^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.