X-51 Reaches Mach 5; Flight Ends Early

June 17 2011

USA

The second flight of the Air Force's X-51A Waverider hypersonic demonstrator from the Point Mugu Naval Air Test Range over the Pacific Ocean ended prematurely, reports the Air Force News Service.

The hypersonic aircraft was boosted to a speed of more than Mach 5. The scramjet engine lit successfully but failed to transition to full power, officials said.

It made a controlled crash on Monday, reported Flight International.

The demonstrator was released from a B-52H...

Please log in to continue reading.

Not yet a subscriber? Take a free trial.

Military Periscope gives you easy-to-use, integrated, open-source intelligence on…

  • More than 7,500 weapons systems and platforms
  • Nearly every country's armed forces
  • Militant organizations
laptop image

Try Military Periscope free for seven days