X-43A does Mach 7

Awesome,
Thanks for the update.

Hey Steve,
I was getting bits and pieces on the radio while I was at work. I heard that they had some great air to air shots!!.
They've come a long way..!!
Flaps up, Mike

I saw the launch from the B-52 on CNN....NICE!!!!!

Down side is, the SR-71 is no longer the fastest air-breathing aircraft around. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Of course, it only took them 42 YEARS to surpass the good ol' Super Sled!

whats the difference with a small unmanned plane (the size of a missle) and a missle?
the thing is too small for anyone to fit in and the booster rocket is massive
heres a picture of the rocket (the white bit) and the unmanned plane (the little black bit at the end)


SR-71 is still the fastest piloted air-breathing aircraft around (unless the super secret Aurora is real)

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I'm a sentimental guy sometimes and agree about the piloted versus unpiloted thing, but the fact that this little 'missile' did what it did proves that the day may not be far off when a piloted air-breather will do the same.


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The companies that fabricated the X-43, GASL and Microcraft, were sister companies with us ( Allied Aerospace) and were sold earlier this year to ATK. I congradulate all those who were a part of it ....Great job!

Regards, Dan

I'm not sure that it classifies as an aircraft. For the 10 seconds that the SCramjet was, apparently, operating, the thing was on a ballistic trajectory, not in controlled , powered, aerodynamic flight. Then there's the manned/ unmanned issue. This is not to denegrate the technological achievement, but, really, NASA ought not to pretend that it is what it isn't.

QUOTE: Originally posted by chris hall I'm not sure that it classifies as an aircraft. For the 10 seconds that the SCramjet was, apparently, operating, the thing was on a ballistic trajectory, not in controlled , powered, aerodynamic flight. Then there's the manned/ unmanned issue. This is not to denegrate the technological achievement, but, really, NASA ought not to pretend that it is what it isn't.

Regardless of terminology, nomenclature, etc., it's an important step forward. I mean really, did the first "horse-less carriage" qualify as a car?

So, I haven't read much about the X-43, but I saw it's primary fuel supply was hydrogen. With the oxygen being forced in there, is this similar at some conceptual level to fuel cell technology? If so, just a nother step away from our dependency on fossil fuels and a step towards the socio-economic cratering of the Middle East. That means someone's anti-American funds are gonna get cut-off. I'm liking this fuel cell stuff more and more.

Hey Mike,

I checked the Dryden site and there's nothing yet in the way of large images. The only thing they have is a groovy shot of the tunnel model and a buncha captures from an animated video. Shouldn't be too awful long before they have some images of the flight, though.

BTW, I forgot to tell you that I was over by the Goon last night and he's gonna ask Mr. Anigrand if he plans on releasing this thing. If he does, it'll most likely be little scale, though. That'd be one tiny-freakin' model...

Oh and he's coming along with his Bird of Prey. 'Tis looking good.


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