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Mach 6 Test Aircraft Set For Trials

coondoggie writes "The aspiration that jets may someday fly at over six times the speed of sound took a very real step toward reality recently, as the US Air Force said it successfully married the test aircraft, known as the X-51A WaveRider, to a B-52 in preparation for a Dec. 2 flight test. The X-51A flight tests are intended to demonstrate that the engines can achieve their desired speed without disintegrating. While the X-51 looks like a large rocket now, its applications could change the way aircraft or spaceships are designed, fly into space, support reconnaissance missions and handle long-distance flight operations. At the heart of the test is the aircraft's air-breathing hypersonic scramjet system."

5 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. With lube strip by imashination · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mach 6, how blades is that?

    1. Re:With lube strip by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 3, Funny

      Fuck everything, we're doing 10 blades.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
  2. Re:Hmmm... by KangKong · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nice to be the test pilot. "Increase the speed to mach 6, we're just gonna check that the engines don't disintegrate."

  3. "the aircraft's air-breathing hypersonic scramjet" by MRe_nl · · Score: 4, Funny

    WHOOOSH!

    (ducks)

    --
    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
  4. Re:Not for aircraft. by Myrcutio · · Score: 3, Funny

    The F-22 wasn't created for our time, it's intended use is to aid our future brethren in overthrowing their tyrannical alien overlords. See the documentary here.