Aviation's Hypersonic Challenge

Almost 60 years ago, the sound barrier was thought impossible to pass. Yet soon after the X-1's victory, programs were already in the works to take us beyond Mach 1 and to supersonic flight (Mach 1- Mach 5). But to cross another barrier of hypersonic flight (any speed greater than Mach 5), drastic problems would have to be over come in design, propulsion, and building materials that were presently unavailable. With years of research and testing, these obstacles were finally overcome with the recent success of Mach 9.8 flight achieved in November of 2004. Powered by the Scramjet (Supersonic combustion ramjet), NASA's X-43A test vehicle touched a realm of flight rarely found by air-breathing airplanes, hypersonic flight. With the X-43's amazing thrust potential being generated by an engine that has no compressors or moving parts, scientists and nations alike are interested to see how this technology can be applied towards future goals and projects.

Scramjets are not a new idea. Although the most exciting advancements and successes have taken place most recently, the concept has been actively pursued since the 1940's. With authorities supersonic flight programs such as the F-80 Shooting Star, Republic XF- 103 and the X-15, valuable information was gained about ramjet/scramjets performance. Their advances in analyzing hydrocarbon-fueled engines alone have helped scramjet technologies to reach its current developmental state.

Scramjet engines are a far departure from the conventional turbine jet engine. Air enters both motors and is compressed. Fuel is added to the compressed air, ignited, and forced from the back of the motors. This is basically the only thing both engines have in common. But if hypersonic flight is to be achieved comparisons will need to be drawn against this and other a power plants to understand why the scramjet is the answer for hypersonic propulsion.

With the successful demonstration of the engines by the United States and other countries, many possibilities are now attainable. From precision guided missiles to Mach 10 flight, and the proposed X-43B, the technology is here to stay. If funding can be secured, new generations of long range bombers, fast-reaction cruise missiles, and a space launch system that could cut the costs associated with propelling astronauts and payload into space to one-hundredth of today's costs, might be realized. Civilization continues to try for faster and more efficient means of transportation and with scramjet-powered vehicles, the hypersonic barrier today doesn't look impossible. With guarantee, scramjets powered vehicles could one day fulfill the aggressive political goals stated by President Reagan in 1986 in regards to the National Aerospace Plane,"To offer travel from New York to Tokyo in two hours." However talk is cheap, and one thing scramjets have certainly proved, low price scramjet research and development doesn't exist.