The U.S. Air Force put their hypersonic scramjet technology to the test, and it passed. Loaded on a modified B-52 Bomber, the X-51A Waverider, was taken to 50,000 feet, where it disengaged from the parent craft before igniting and screaming towards 70,000 feet during a 200 second fuel burn that propelled the craft to an approximate Mach 5. The test was performed near Point Mugu Naval Air Station, near Oxnard, CA. It is an unmanned aircraft/test vehicle.
The hypersonic craft’s test flight was far from perfect, yet quite successful step in a technological advancement process that has been underway since the 1950s.
Different from other scramjet technology, the X-51A Waverider literally rides on the supersonic waves, using them as a direct flow intake into the propulsion chamber, where it is immediately converted into thrust. Most scramjets and other jets capable of supersonic flight are limited to certain speeds because of the compression blades which pull in the air to push it into the combustion chamber for the turbo-charged jet-propulsion.
Naw, I’m no expert–that’s obvious. Yet, this stuff fascinates me, as it does most every dude or anyone who is interested in the “power” of aeronautical science.
Catch the video below for more detail from the experts, as well as some great views of the X-51A.
(Image via: The Register)
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