Waverider breaks Mach 6 in test flight

The X-51 Waverider has achieved Mach 6 for 200 seconds in the most recent test flight by the USAF research wing. While myself and a few others on this board will say," we have already perfected ScramJet technology" it is still cool to see the overt programs make success like this.

Pretty cool.

These are "Public Records" I take it.

The real records probably go well beyond Mach 6.

reply to post by DocEmrick


Exactly, if these are public record, I'm guessing the US probably has the ability to reach Mach 10 - 12 with something else - pulse detonation engines etc. My thoughts on this are, what do the Russians have? I can't believe they have nothing of this sort they are working on, or have in the past - Or don't they?

[edit on 27-5-2010 by TortoiseKweek]

Was just about to post this....Good job

Sorry...Lines

well not that i have any proff to offer or that you will believe me .
But moc 15 is the last record I know of >Ps that was years agaio btw

God damn it!

I search Hypersonic, Jet and X-51A and I couldn't find anything so i posted this.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Mine does have a video though

i didnt know what the x-51a waverider was never seen it before so i googled it and are you f+~$*n kidding me, i had a dream a few weeks back were there was like phosphorus or meteor's falling from the sky and from between all these meteors came this flying machine and guess what it was identical to this x-51a. i know for an absolute fact that ive never seen such a machine before. wierd lol.

Originally posted by truthseeker10
i had a dream a few weeks back were there was like phosphorus or meteor's falling from the sky and from between all these meteors came this flying machine and guess what it was identical to this x-51a. i know for an absolute fact that ive never seen such a machine before. wierd lol.

I'll have some of what your smoking... no - wait, then I might not pass my monthly drug screen. ;-P

Reminds me of the movie "the right stuff". ... but didn't we already have something that went around mach 5 in the 60's?

Surely we've done much better since then.

Every time I see them showing us a little bit of technological progress, I just think it's the tip of the iceberg.

The real stuff makes what we have publicly look like something cave-men built.

Originally posted by 30_seconds

Reminds me of the movie "the right stuff". ... but didn't we already have something that went around mach 5 in the 60's?

Yep the X-15.

Fastest flights

X-15 10 fastest flights

Flight 45 9 November 1961 4,092 mph (6,585 km/h) 19.2 miles (30.9 km) Robert M. White
Flight 59 27 June 1962 4,104 mph (6,605 km/h) 23.4 miles (37.7 km) Joe Walker
Flight 64 26 July 1962 3,989 mph (6,420 km/h) 18.7 miles Neil Armstrong
Flight 86 25 June 1963 3,910 mph (6,290 km/h) 21.7 miles (34.9 km) Joe Walker
Flight 89 18 July 1963 3,925 mph (6,317 km/h) 19.8 miles (31.9 km) Robert Rushworth
Flight 97 5 December 1963 4,017 mph (6,465 km/h) 19.1 miles (30.7 km) Robert Rushworth
Flight 105 29 April 1964 3,905 mph (6,284 km/h) 19.2 miles (30.9 km) Robert Rushworth
Flight 137 22 June 1965 3,938 mph (6,338 km/h 29.5 miles (47.5 km) John B. McKay
Flight 175 18 November 1966 4,250 mph (6,840 km/h) 18.7 miles (30.1 km) Pete Knight
Flight 188 3 October 1967 4,519 mph (7,273 km/h 36.3 miles (58.4 km) Pete Knight

Source

reply to post by 30_seconds

Guys,
Rocketplanes have been around a loooong time, the X-15 and shuttle being the most famous.
Therefore hypersonic speeds are not unheard of, but using an air breathing engine to achieve such velocities is, (the legendary/mythological Aurora notwithstanding).
As for methodologies, Ramjet and Scramjet tech are the most researched and applied areas of mainstream research and that is why the X-51 is so important and cool.

I cant wait until these machines are developed enough to attain sub-orbital/orbital velocity.

Can you imagine going to orbit with an air breathing engine? Thats what alot of the weight for rockets is for, an oxidizer for the fuel.

Exciting times, not mention m6-8 cruise missles, scary.

[edit on 28-5-2010 by ErEhWoN]

reply to post by ErEhWoN


Well in another development, I have come across a recent patent for a plenum air preheater for a pulse detonation engine. Granted this is only a patent and may never see the working world, and it is a pulse det and not a scramjet, but it seems we are moving closer and closer to achieving LEO without the need for strapping large rockets to our crafts. exciting times indeed. Outside of conspiracy theories has anyone heard anything that can be shared with violating security protocols about pulse-detonation development, outside of the rumored Aurora? (BTW thank you all for your responses)

[edit on 30-5-2010 by djvexd]

reply to post by bonsaisert


So does mine Either way good eyes my friend, took care of ya on your thread.