The X-51A: On Track for Hypersonic Speed

Artist concept of the X-51A.

By Craig Taylor

December 14, 2009

The U.S. Air Force X-51A WaveRider vehicle made its first captive carry flight under the wing of a B-52 carry aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

A captive carry flight, in which a test vehicle is attached to and carried by another aircraft, is a common approach for testing a new type of aircraft before it flies on its own.

"The successful captive carry flight keeps the X-51A team on track for a major breakthrough in propulsion technology and the realization of scramjet powered flight," said George Thum, X-51A program manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

The X-51A program is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, The Boeing Company and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. "This was a great day for the program," added Charlie Brink, X-51A program manager, Air Force Research Laboratory. "We successfully captured all of our test points without any anomalies. I'm really proud of the AFRL, Air Force Flight Test Center and the Boeing/Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne teams' efforts to move us toward the big event."

During the “big event” early next year, the X-51A will demonstrate hypersonic flight up to six times the speed of sound.