SR-72 Confirmed: Mach 6 Project Blackswift

reply to post by intelgurl

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Intelgurl,
do you think the Blackswift is the same thing than the Hypersonic cruise vehicle, and for the size I think this plane is much bigger than the SR71.

Intelgurl,
Do you think the Blackswift, is the same plane than the Hypersonic cruise vehicle?
For the size I think it must be much bigger than the SR71.

I may be wrong but i would have thought the only place in the UK that is remote enough to keep this even slightly secret is in the very north of Scotland? almost everywhere else in both England and Wales is pretty close to places of which are pretty well populated?

reply to post by solidshot

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Hi Solidshot, hhmm I don't know about that. Obviously there are some extremely remote locations in Scotland, the infamous RAF Machrihanish springs to mind! although this is now semi-civi. But there are some other pretty remote places in England too.
Boscombe Down has long been used as a classified project test site. Warton, even though it's owned by BAE could be another site that would allow a direct landing without much of an overflight of populated areas. There's Qinetiq sites all over the place too.......but my money would be on Machrihanish in Scotland simply because of it's existing ties with the USAF and it's extremely long runway.

Cheers
Robbie

As long as it's runway is 12,000 feet or more, Machrihanish could be the place.

Looks too short to me.

reply to post by intelgurl

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Machrihanish runway is 10,000 feet. Although it is has a civil airport I believe the MoD still own the land and can revert it to Military use at any Time.

Actually, last I heard it was a 3.2 mile runway, am I wrong?

I dumb question I'm sure but, if they have been reverse engineering Alien Space Carft that is faster, more manuverable etc etc etc, why are we screwing around with winged aircraft? Is it some kind of Pet Project or front to suck many for the "Real Cutting Edge Stuff and other projects? Are these going to be production models or just a few for?

I should know more about this before opening my mouth but that photo reminds me of an Ad; like a 09 Mazaratti they are letting a little bit leak about to get our attention and build interest. Like, OH..that is what they have been spending all that money on. I like planes, don't getme wrong but it just seems like something from some drawing board for the 70s//no doubt it has every bell and whistle nut but is can't make 45 degree turns at 3KPH.

Just some thoughts..

MACHRIHANISH AIRPORT DATAreply to post by intelgurl

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reply to post by intelgurl

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Hi Intelgurl, no campbelltown (Machrihanish) is 10,000 feet long. The second longest runway in the UK after Heathrow.

Surely in testing you may need a 12,000 ft runway but in operational use restricting the aircraft to only landing on runways above 12,000 ft would be extremely limiting? 10,000 feet is pretty long by European standards.

Cheers

Robbie

Yes, you're right, I am so immersed in testing - sigh

Yeah I'll let you off with that one :-)

Keep us posted of any news, I agree with you about the attempt at pushing this into the black, let see if we can avoid that :-)

Cheers

Robbie

More news releases on testing related to Blackswift.



From the sounds of the article these 2 test flights of the HTV-2 testbeds are a run up to the Blackswift project. This may be DARPAs way of proving their worth to be selected for the project. Also a small bit of insight was given into the possible Blackswift design as well.


www.flightglobal.com...

Good find Canada_EH...
The HTV-2 is a scramjet waverider design whereas the HTV-3 will use a turbine based combined cycle (TTBC) ramjet engine being developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne - so naturally HTV-2 and HTV-3 will employ different shapes.

reply to post by intelgurl

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Figured adding an image maybe nice for those of use who like pretty pictures!
-enjoy-


DARPA HTV-2


[edit on 2-5-2008 by Canada_EH]

reply to post by intelgurl

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intelgurl,
Where is GE in all this ramjet scramjet hypersonic talk? I am wondering about FADECs on these type engines..in particular if usual players are providing ala Hamilton Std..
BP

Ooooo I hadn't read this thread till now..

The FALCON project, as I understand it, really involved 4 stages:
1) Turbo Jet
2) Ram Jet
3) Scramjet76 (oops where'd the 76 come from? )
4) Rocketry

This "SR-72" is essentially cutting out the last two stages of FALCON as a Ramjet will work fine for speeds up to mach 5-6. The biggest problem with flying so fast is the heating.



That certainly looks about as aerodynamic as they come! That might resolve alot of heating issues. However those wings hardly look capable of generating much lift. Without the need for an oxidizer or a human, perhaps they'll save enough weight to add features such as retractable wings (used for slower flight, retracted for high speed movement) and weapons payloads??