Tag Archives: hypersonic

Final X-51A WaveRider hypersonic mission achieves Mach 5.1, record flight length

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With the third X-51A WaveRider failing to reach hypersonic speed due to a fin failure last August, it seemed the United States Air Force would possibly forgo the fourth (and final) run. On the morning of May 1st, however, that last X-51A got its chance to soar, successfully reaching Mach 5.1 during a record 370-second flight. According to the Wright Patterson Air Force base, the aircraft's rocket booster helped it hit Mach 4.8 about 26 seconds after being released from a B-2H at 50K feet, at which point its air-fed scramjet brought it to 60,000 feet while achieving hypersonic flight. The USAF notes that "it was the longest of the four X-51A test flights [230 nautical miles] and the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight" -- surely taking some of the sting out of the $300 million program's previous shortcomings. Past flights aimed to hit Mach six, with the first and second tests only sustaining Mach five.

The aircraft made destructive splashdown landing into the Pacific as planned, but data from the whole flight was recorded. The USAF isn't planning a follow-up to the X-51A anytime soon, though the program will likely serve as a reference for future designs. You can dig into the official rundown at the link below.

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Via: Slashdot

Source: USAF

X-51A WaveRider hypersonic mission doomed by bum missile fin

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DNP X51A Waverider hypersonic test fails with snapped fin before scramjet deployed

The latest attempt to go past Mach 5 with the X51A has finished badly again, as a broken fin caused the missile to lose control before its air-breathing "scramjet'" motor could even kick in. It happened just after the booster rocket phase, which accelerates the craft to at least Mach 4, a high enough velocity for the hypersonic scramjet to work. The craft ended up in the Pacific shortly afterwards instead, and this latest affair may end up dunking the entire $300 million program. The Air Force initiative is already short on funding, and the previous two tries were equally dismal failures -- meaning a fourth missile, already built, may end up a museum piece.

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X-51A WaveRider hypersonic mission doomed by bum missile fin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hypersonic X-51A WaveRider Test Flight Today

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I’ve always had a fascination with flight. My favorite aircraft is the SR-71 Blackbird. The Blackbird was a spy aircraft that ventured into enemy territory for many years with nothing but speed and altitude for defense. That aircraft held flight records and still holds many to this day despite having been retired for years.

x 51a

A group of aerospace engineers is set for a test flight of an aircraft called the X-51A WaveRider today over the Pacific Ocean. This new plane is even faster than the SR-71. The goal of the test flight is to cruise at 3600 mph for 5 minutes. At Mach 6, a passenger aircraft would be able to fly from Los Angeles to New York in 46 minutes – though it probably would be quite uncomfortable for its passengers at that speed.

The WaveRider will be attached under the wing of a B-52 bomber and carried to an altitude of 50,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean near Point Mugu. The aircraft will then release and accelerate on its Mach 6 journey. The goal of the X-51A program is to perfect hypersonic flight for use by military and commercial aircraft as well as spacecraft and more.

[via Seattle Times]