Hypersonic Jet Breaks Record

[Julian]

A hypersonic plane has broken the world speed record by flying at 7,700 km/h (4,780 mph), Mach 7.

Article Here

The technology could eventually pave the way for faster long-distance air travel -

Imagine....London to New York in under an hour, but you look like Rowan Atkinson when you get there.

Originally Posted by Julian

A hypersonic plane has broken the world speed record by flying at 7,700 km/h (4,780 mph), Mach 7.

Article Here

The technology could eventually pave the way for faster long-distance air travel -

Imagine....London to New York in under an hour, but you look like Rowan Atkinson when you get there.

Hmmm You gotta wonder if this would ever be meant for passenger carrying aircraft. I'd imagine that Dubya wont allow passanger jets to fly faster than his shiny military aircraft.
Imagine the safety precautions needed for passengers to be carried at those speeds. Concorde overcame huge hurdles to reach supersonic speeds for a passenger carrying aircraft and was then deemed commercially uneconomical after one major accident.
I dont think anyone yet will be attempting to invest/design and build another supersonic airliner for the forseeable future.

Excellent advance in technology though, still gotta say it will be used for military purposes only at first.

[Ramrod]

A brilliant achievement but I was slightly dissapointed when I found out the plane was unmanned and had been propelled to scramjet speed by rockets.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

A brilliant achievement but I was slightly dissapointed when I found out the plane was unmanned and had been propelled to scramjet speed by rockets.

Catch 22 situation, isn't it. You need hypersonic speeds to get the scram jet to start. So, if you had only a scramjet engine and were at sub-hypersonic speeds . . .

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by timewarrior2001

I'd imagine that Dubya wont allow passanger jets to fly faster than his shiny military aircraft.

You really have no clue what you're writing, do you?



I love NASA. I wouldn't mind getting a job there for a few months. Good work boys!

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

You really have no clue what you're writing, do you?

I love NASA. I wouldn't mind getting a job there for a few months. Good work boys!

In simple terms we all know that military needs drive technological development. Passenger use of this technology is, I would suggest, most unlikely for decades, if ever, despite press speculation. After all the successor to Concorde never got off the ground (no pun intended ), not because of safety, or even technology (I think they were suggesting almost flying into the stratoshpere?), but economics - the 747, and mass passenger movement was far more practical., and affordable for the commercial airline.

It may, just in fact one day have a military use, as the engine don't work at all untill is is multisupersonic. A lightweight single seat plane might just be able to be wound up to that speed somehow. A commercial jet liner, how long would that take to accelerate, and would it be worth the effort and energy expended. I doubt it.

Yes a great "coup" for NASA, but realistically, where might it lead?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

You really have no clue what you're writing, do you?

Does he not have a point? If not, why not?

[Halcyon]

Still think Concorde should still be flying. RIP.