Posted on 09/05/2009 11:13:54 AM PDT by Clint Williams
coondoggie writes
"The aspiration that jets may someday fly at over six times the speed of sound took a very real step toward reality recently, as the US Air Force said it successfully married the test aircraft, known as the X-51A WaveRider, to a B-52 in preparation for a Dec. 2 flight test. The X-51A flight tests are intended to demonstrate that the engines can achieve their desired speed without disintegrating. While the X-51 looks like a large rocket now, its applications could change the way aircraft or spaceships are designed, fly into space, support reconnaissance missions and handle long-distance flight operations. At the heart of the test is the aircraft's air-breathing hypersonic scramjet system."
“WTF is the difference between air speed and true air speed?”
It can be nothing, and it can be a huge amount. Depends on the relative wind and air density. I could be flying at an indicated air speed of 100kts, and not actually be moving forward, therefore, my true airspeed would be zero.
Ever seen or done a tailslide? Fun.
Oh I see, you were referring to the difference between true and indicated airspeed. Makes sense.
No, I have never done a tailslide. At least I dont think so (since I don’t know what a tailslide is). But one time I got myself into a major flat spin at only about 1000 ft, recovered with massive amounts of rudder, and then decided that civil avation was better off without me. I accepted the fact that some of us have the wrong stuff, and I never flew (solo) again.
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