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B-nole
AUG 17, 2012 10:51 AM
2,652
Technology
Hypersonic Aircraft Attempts Mach Six Speed and Crashes
I talk about fast cars every day, but not fast planes.
Today, let's focus on an aircraft built to travel at six times the speed of sound.
Think about that for a second.
The fastest cars on the road hit just above 200 mph. This aircraft can go about twenty-two times faster.
I wouldn't want to line up with this thing at a red light.
A closely monitored test flight of an experimental aircraft ended in disappointment when a part failed, causing the unmanned cruiser to crash into the Pacific Ocean, the Air Force explained.
The X-51A WaveRider, designed to travel up to 4,500 mph (Mach 6), was launched in the Point Mugu Naval Air Test Range over the Pacific in a crucial test Tuesday meant to fine-tune its hypersonic scramjet engine. The aircraft was supposed to fly for five minutes. That didn't happen because the engine never even started.
About 15 seconds into the flight, a problem was detected in one of the WaveRider’s control fins and the cruiser was not able to maintain control. soon after, it plummeted into the ocean.
Charlie Brink, program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory, was not happy.
I feel your pain Charlie, but going 4,500 mph isn't exactly a walk in the park.
The Pentagon wants to prove the idea and will most likely try a fourth flight with the last remaining WaveRider.
via Newsday
Today, let's focus on an aircraft built to travel at six times the speed of sound.
Think about that for a second.
The fastest cars on the road hit just above 200 mph. This aircraft can go about twenty-two times faster.
I wouldn't want to line up with this thing at a red light.
A closely monitored test flight of an experimental aircraft ended in disappointment when a part failed, causing the unmanned cruiser to crash into the Pacific Ocean, the Air Force explained.
The X-51A WaveRider, designed to travel up to 4,500 mph (Mach 6), was launched in the Point Mugu Naval Air Test Range over the Pacific in a crucial test Tuesday meant to fine-tune its hypersonic scramjet engine. The aircraft was supposed to fly for five minutes. That didn't happen because the engine never even started.
About 15 seconds into the flight, a problem was detected in one of the WaveRider’s control fins and the cruiser was not able to maintain control. soon after, it plummeted into the ocean.
Charlie Brink, program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory, was not happy.
“It is unfortunate that a problem with this subsystem caused a termination before we could light the scramjet engine,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “All our data showed we had created the right conditions for engine ignition, and we were very hopeful to meet our test objectives.”
I feel your pain Charlie, but going 4,500 mph isn't exactly a walk in the park.
The Pentagon wants to prove the idea and will most likely try a fourth flight with the last remaining WaveRider.
via Newsday
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