Posted on 08/15/2012 1:50:59 PM PDT by verum ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) An unmanned experimental aircraft failed during an attempt to fly at six times the speed of sound in the latest setback for hypersonic flight.
The X-51A Waverider was designed to reach Mach 6, or 3,600 mph, after being dropped by a B-52 bomber off the Southern California coast on Tuesday. Engineers hoped it would sustain its top speed for five minutes, twice as long as an X-51A has gone before.
But the Air Force said Wednesday that a faulty control fin prevented it from starting its exotic scramjet engine and it was lost.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
bummer.
Sounds like we’ve got some GM/Microsoft quality control here.
So, get rid of some managers and get some more good engineers and mechanics in there.
Nothing wrong with the concept.
It’s R&D. Stuff happens. Persevere.
Guess that’s why they call them “Experimental” ...
Such is the nature of experimental aircraft. If at first you don’t succeed ...
SnakeDoc
I have some friends who were involved in a recent test that need not be discussed here. The test failed. The problem was a test infrastructure part that was made in China that failed during the test. The certification audit trail was faked. Some folks in big trouble, but even worse are questions about what other things might be from China and does any of it have a phone home feature built in. This is what happens when you start cutting corners.
Then think about it long enough and declare war on the Union.
Our chinese friends have been supplying fake parts for military electronics too. Why the hell would anyone outsource national security?!
I’ve wondered since the bridge failed if Chinese parts were used in the maintenance.
Probably shot down by Mexican gangbangers using Fast and Furious ack ack.
Hold Obama responsible.
“...Why the hell would anyone outsource national security?!”
We’re talkin’ the Obamadork adminstration.
There is no standard above which they are capable of going.
Not easy to hit something going 3600 mph.
At 316800 fps you will have to have some hot ammo to catch it.
Damn the luck. They could have used that money to send a robot to Mars to take pictures for postcards of the great Southwest, test new Swiffer models, test proto-type air filters, etc., but noooooo, they had to throw it away on a jet powered frisbie.
yup.... we outsource work at our own peril
Heh, I love that scene.
Chief Dan stole every scene he was ever in.
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