Yes, I know Mach 5 is faster, but I was thinking if we have gone from 2200 mph nearly 50 years ago to potential 3300 mph near future, that is not as impressive as it first sounds.
“Yes, I know Mach 5 is faster, but I was thinking if we have gone from 2200 mph nearly 50 years ago to potential 3300 mph near future, that is not as impressive as it first sounds.”
Agreed. If you think of aviation and military aircraft capability improvements between 1940 and 1970, and then compare to changes between 1970 and today, I think one word that could describe the situation would be “stagnation.”
This plane would have been hot stuff in 2000, even, but today the Russians already have hypersonic interceptor missiles that are likely to be able to take this plane out. I’d say it’s kind of like one of those cigarette boats from Miami Vice — real fast, real showy, and not much practical use. I hope I’m wrong.
We don’t know what the Military Industrial Complex is developing at any given moment from the Skunk Works. They may be working on a ‘futuristic’ engine that will go Mach 10 for all we know right now. Or a Anti-Gravity device that will make all other forms of transport obsolete, who knows?..........................