Japanese Scale-Model Superjet Crashes in Test

Reuters ^ | Sat Jul 13,11:00 PM ET | unkown

[VadeRetro]

WOOMERA, South Australia (Reuters) - A test launch of what Japanese scientists hope will be the next generation of supersonic jet failed spectacularly Sunday in the Australian desert.

The superjet, a 1:10 scale model of a plane that would be able to fly twice as fast as the Concorde, dived into the ground shortly after take-off at a long-abandoned British rocket testing range in South Australia, a Reuters photographer on the scene said.

"It spiraled in the sky and then crashed into the ground in flames," photographer Mark Baker said.

The rocket-propelled almost 38-foot model piggy-backed on an almost 33-foot rocket, and was supposed to detach from the booster 11 miles above the earth and glide back down at over twice the speed of sound.

Scientists, sponsored by Japan's government-funded National Aerospace Laboratory, had spent the last six months preparing to launch the model of a jet that could one day carry three times as many people.

They plan flights with twice the 6,000 miles range and half the noise of the Anglo-French Concorde which could take passengers from Japan to the U.S. West coast in four hours at a business class fare.

The project, involving Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nissan Motor Corp, aims to cut the noise of supersonic flights to the rumble of a Boeing 747 so the superjet can fly anywhere.

The test was originally scheduled for Thursday but had to be postponed because of bad wind conditions.

Original story and slideshow.

[VadeRetro]

Back to drawing board!

[VadeRetro]

Break from the crevo action.

[VadeRetro]

Technical help needed. See the Japanese consulate in your area.

[sonofron]

the japanese are diligent folks, i bet they'll get it right eventually.

[Octar]

Light fuse and step back smartly.

[spoiler2]

Right, this is just a launch rocket malfunction, and says nothing of the actual aircraft design.

[VadeRetro]

the japanese are diligent folks, i bet they'll get it right eventually.

Seeing rockets spiral and crash reminds me when I was a kid and the Russians had just launched Sputnik. The US was rushing to put a satellite on a Vanguard rocket to match the feat but all those Vanguards wanted to do was crash and burn. Yeah, stick with it and you'll get there.

[RadioAstronomer]

Technical help needed. See the Japanese consulate in your area.

Who me?? LOL!

[VadeRetro]

You do have to admit it blowed up real good!

[Prodigal Son]

OK! We move on to manned test flight! Ichiru! Front and center! As worst pilot in your class it will be your honor to test full sized model!

[Lazamataz]

Light fuse and step back smartly.

[VadeRetro]

Karnak the Magnificent, holding envelope to head: "Chicken terriyaki!"

Ed McMahon: "Chicken terriyaki."

(Karnak looks at him with irritation, then gives him the envelope to open.)

Ed (reading): "What is the name of the world's oldest kamikaze pilot?"

[rabidralph]

I do so love a spectacular failure.

[PatrickHenry]

It was probably an attack by Godzilla.

[VadeRetro]

I think Rodan or Mothra (fliers) fit the M.O. better.

[bert]

It would appear the headline is incorrect.

The rocket failed. The plane did not reach altitude and was not tested.

[aruanan]

I really wish people (not just on FR) would use accurate headlines. The implication of the headline is that the scale model plane flew and crashed. Actually the scale model went up on the rocket in order to be tested but the rocket crashed and burned, destroying the scale model before it could ever be tested.

The rocket-propelled almost 38-foot model piggy-backed on an almost 33-foot rocket, and was supposed to detach from the booster 11 miles above the earth and glide back down at over twice the speed of sound.

Other photos show that the rocket barely made it a few hundred feet before turning back and crashing.

[big'ol_freeper]

I love fireworks!!

[ChadGore]

< lips moving > Godzilla? < lips moving >

[PatrickHenry]

I think Rodan or Mothra (fliers) fit the M.O. better.

They all look alike.