TTIUWOP
Posted on 02/09/2010 9:43:06 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
In a flight test reminiscent of the early days of the historic X-15 program 50 years earlier, the X-51A Waverider was carried aloft for the first time over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 9 by an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52H Stratofortress. The "captive carry" test was a key milestone in preparation for the X-51 to light its supersonic combustion ramjet engine and propel the WaverRider at hypersonic speed for about 5 minutes, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean. That flight test is currently planned in about two months, said Charlie Brink, X-51A program manager with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patt.
"This was a great day for the program," Brink said. "The early look is we successfully captured all of our test points without any anomalies. I'm really proud of the AFRL, Air Force Flight Test Center, and Boeing/Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne teams' efforts to move us towards the big event."
The Dec. 9 captive carry test launched about 3 p.m. Pacific time and was conducted entirely in the airspace over Edwards Air Force Base while various systems and telemetry were checked out. Flight duration was 1.4 hours.
(Excerpt) Read more at space-travel.com ...
This is the kind of activity that creates jobs and leads to technological advancement.
So what does maobama do? Wastes money on giant propellers for spinnin’ in the wind.
TTIUWOP
The B-52 continues to amaze.
Though the oldest B-52 flying,the B-52 at Edwards has the least number of flight hours in the B-52 fleet. It has around 2000 hours over almost 50 years due to its exclusive use in flight testing.
I have many cars/trucks with more hours.
A lot of us.
ITS BEEN RETIRED. Was replaced by a B-52H model which also has been retired to Shepphard AFB last year. NASA no longer has a B-52
You are right Balls-8 was retired in 2004
40 hr/yr? That ain’t squat.
Balls 8 was rarely used.
Apparently.
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.