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NASA Tests Hypersonic Blackswift

Posted by timothy on from the for-a-romantic-honeymoon-cruise dept.

dijkstra writes "Blackswift was previously rumored to be a super secret hypersonic scramjet-based aircraft co-named HTV-3X, essentially a 21st century version of the SR-71. Today NASA has unveiled the real Blackswift (video link), which uses pulse detonation engines (PDEs). A PDE is essentially a modern version of the old V-1 buzz bomb engine. This engine requires significantly fewer moving parts and achieves much higher efficiency than a turbofan, and is technically able to go hypersonic without any kind of 'dual-stage' engine."

6 of 487 comments (clear)

  1. Yup. That's hella quick. by Tastecicles · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ...only one small problem that I can see.

    With the current trend in price hikes for fossil fuels, would this also be reflected in (presumably to be used in this vehicle) cryogenic fuel? If so, then a tank full of hydrogen is gonna cost a bomb (pun intended) and this will be reflected in seat prices. Hypersonic travel is going to be prohibitively expensive. If you're not in Government and taking bribes, or you're not obscenely rich to begin with, or you're not dipping your hands in someone else's pockets in some other way, or you're not flight crew, then forget about getting within spitting distance of one of these aircraft.

    While I'm pissing on rugs here, what new infrastructure (if any) will be required to accommodate these skyliners? Ten mile runways?

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    Operation Guillotine is in effect.
  2. Re:I feel dirty by sunspot42 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    If you think the Faux News clowns are stupid, check out their audience. They're two tacos and an enchilada short of a combination platter.

    The Faux News goons sure have smarm down to an art, though. They remind me exactly of the newsthugs the government installed at ISN following President Clark's little coup on Babylon 5. Life imitates art.

  3. Re:Awful by kaizokuace · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    the dumb jocks in high school figured it out! They got a news station (Fox News) and are using it to dumb down america. If they make everyone as dumb as them then they will not be dumb! What a dumb idea! Brilliant!

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    Balderdash!
  4. Re:Not even in the same class as the SR-71 by ceroklis · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    You think using the word "bird" instead of "plane" makes you sound cool ? Trust me. It doesn't.

  5. He's probably making minimum 4-5 times your salary by Colin+Smith · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Jesus those people are dumb.

    Yacht, fancy house, nice car, holiday home etc etc.

     

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    Deleted
  6. Re:I feel dirty by mi · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    There are smart conservatives, just not as many.

    [Citation needed]

    Meanwhile, may I recommend the If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans?

    Or are you also a book-hater?

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    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.