The NASA X-43 was an experimental unmanned hypersonic aircraft with multiple planned scale variations meant to test various aspects of hypersonic flight. It was part of the X-plane series and specifically of NASA 's Hyper-X program developed in the late 1990s. [1] . It set several airspeed records for jet aircraft.

Jan 5, 2024 · NASA made aviation history with the first and second successful flights of a scramjet-powered airplane at hypersonic speeds – speeds greater than Mach 5 or five times the speed of sound.

During powered flight, the X-43A flight controls maintained the desired vehicle angle-of-attack of 1 degree within an acceptable tolerance. The scramjet was fueled for approximately 10 seconds, providing predicted thrust. During this time the vehicle achieved cruise condition.

Mar 7, 2016 · Four decades of supersonic-combustion ramjet propulsion research culminated in a successful flight of the X-43A hypersonic technology demonstrator in March 2004, the first time a scramjet-powered aircraft had flown freely.

This paper provides an overview of the final flight of the NASA X-43A project. The project consisted of three flights, two planned for Mach 7 and one for Mach 10. The third and final flight, November 16, 2004, was the first Mach 10 flight demonstration of an airframe-integrated, scramjet-powered, hypersonic vehicle.

Aug 23, 2023 · Hitching a ride on the same B-52 mother ship that once launched X-15 research aircraft in the 1960s, NASA's X-43A... The small size of the X-43A scramjet is evident in this …

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.htmlX-43A Raises the Bar to Mach 9.6Guinness World Records recognized NASA's X-43A scramjet with a new world s...

NASA's X-43A or Hyper-X air vehicle achieved a record-breaking speed of close to Mach 10 (12,000km/hr or 7,000mph) in a test flight in November 2004, which was the culmination of a three-flight test program.

Aug 15, 2018 · It set several airspeed records for #jet aircraft. The...more. aircraft. The X-43 is the fastest aircraft on record at approximately Mach 9.6. A winged booster rocket with the X-43 placed on...

Nov 8, 1999 · fastest air-breathing aircraft, soaring slightly above Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound. the aircraft lighter and enabling it to carry more cargo/payload than rocket-powered propulsion...