| X-51 | |
|---|---|
| Artist's concept of X-51A during flight | |
| Role | Robotic flight demonstrator |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| First flight | 26 May 2010[1] |
| Status | Flight testing |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
The Boeing X-51 is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic (Mach 6, approximately 4,000 miles per hour (6,400 km/h) at altitude) flight testing. It successfully completed its first free-flight on 26 May 2010 and also achieved the longest duration flight at speeds over Mach 5.[1][2]
The X-51 "WaveRider" program is run as a cooperative effort of the United States Air Force, DARPA, NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The program is managed by the Propulsion Directorate within the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).[3] The X-51 had its first captive flight attached to a B-52 in December 2009.
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In the 1990s, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) began the HyTECH program for hypersonic propulsion. Pratt & Whitney received a contract from the AFRL to develop a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet engine which led to the development of the SJX61 engine. The SJX61 engine was originally meant for NASA's X-43C, which was eventually canceled. The engine was applied to the AFRL's Scramjet Engine Demonstrator program in late 2003.[4] The scramjet flight test vehicle was designated X-51 on 27 September 2005.[5]
In flight demonstrations, the X-51 is carried by a B-52 to an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15.2 kilometers) and then released over the Pacific Ocean.[6] The X-51 is initially propelled by an MGM-140 ATACMS solid rocket booster to approximately Mach 4.5, before it is jettisoned. Then the vehicle's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne SJY61 scramjet takes over and accelerates it to a top flight speed near Mach 6.[7][8] The X-51 uses JP-7 fuel for the SJY61 scramjet, carrying some 270 lb (120 kg) onboard.[9]
Previously DARPA viewed X-51 as a stepping stone to Blackswift,[10] a planned hypersonic demonstrator which was canceled in October 2008.[11]
Ground tests of the X-51A began in late 2006. A preliminary version of the X-51, the "Ground Demonstrator Engine No. 2", completed wind tunnel tests at the NASA Langley Research Center on 27 July 2006.[12] Testing continued there until a simulated X-51 flight at Mach 5 was successfully completed on 30 April 2007.[13][14] The testing is intended to observe acceleration between Mach 4 and Mach 6 and to demonstrate that hypersonic thrust "isn't just luck".[15][16] Four test flights were initially planned for 2009, but the first captive flight of the X-51A on a B-52 was not conducted until 9 December 2009,[17][18] with further captive flights in early 2010.[19][20]
The first powered flight of the X-51 was planned for 25 May 2010, but the presence of a cargo ship traveling through a portion of the Naval Air Station Point Mugu Sea Range caused a 24 hour postponement.[21] The X-51 completed its first powered flight successfully on 26 May 2010 by flying for over 200 seconds and reaching a speed of Mach 5; it did not meet the planned 300 second flight duration, however.[1][2] The flight had the longest scramjet burn time of 140 seconds. The X-43 had the previous longest flight burn time of 12 seconds,[2][22][23] while setting a new speed record of Mach 9.8 (12,144 km/h, 7,546 mph).
Three more test flights were planned and will use the same flight trajectory.[22] Boeing proposed to the Air Force Research Laboratory that two test flights be added in order to increase the total to six, with flights taking place at four to six week intervals, assuming there are no failures.[24]
The second test flight was initially scheduled for 24 March 2011,[25] but was not conducted due to unfavorable test conditions.[26] The flight took place on 13 June 2011. However, the flight over the Pacific Ocean ended early due to an inlet unstart event after being boosted to Mach 5 speed. The flight data from the test is being investigated.[27] A B-52 released the X-51 at an approximate altitude of 50,000 feet. The X-51’s scramjet engine lit on ethylene, but did not properly transition to JP-7 fuel operation.[28]
Data from Global Security[29]
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