X-51A Waverider gets first ride

The X-51A Waverider underwent its first ride on an Air Force Test Center B-52Hon Dec 11th. The test flight was to verify telemetry and flight characteristics of the B-52 with the X-51 attached. Another test flight will occur next month, with the first release and flight of the Waverider occuring in approximately two months.

External image of the Boeing X-51 Waverider.

Artist impression, if someone has a real image, please post.

www.boeing.com...


[edit on 16-12-2009 by Phoebus]

reply to post by Phoebus
The best I can do is a pic of the BUFF taking off with it. www.af.mil has it.

best i could find.













*edited to add more pics*


[edit on 17-12-2009 by freakyclown]

[edit on 17-12-2009 by freakyclown]

I'm anxious to see it fly, Hopefully all goes well.

scram jet becoming common place is long overdue.

Now this kind of # gets me far more excited than all the crappy UFO videos in the world. Human ingenuity, pushing the boundaries of what we can do.

NICE very very nice
what fuel does it use?what is the projected top speed +MACH6??
any plans for a bigger manned craft or is it just a scram-jet test platform?

The X-51A is a scramjet test platform. This is the next logical step in development, carrying forward from the data collected with the X-43A. The current configuration could be scaled up for future access-to-space vehicle development, or it could simply be weaponized as a hypersonic cruise missile. Guess which idea is more affordable and has more practical applications.

reply to post by Shadowhawk


now bare with me here, what about using it to launch a SUPER
HYPERSONIC missile from the actual hypersonic platform? would
that be feasible maybe a kinetic weapon?

the space application sounds promising though its about time the
shuttle got a little helper.