Boeing X-51 Waverider
Videos
The Boeing X-51 Waverider is an unmanned research scramjet experimental aircraft for hypersonic flight at Mach 5 and an altitude of 70,000 feet. The aircraft was designated X-51 in 2005. It completed
Artist's concept of X-51A during flight
X-51A under the wing of a B-52 at Edwards Air Force Base, July 2009
The SJX61-2 engine successfully completes ground tests simulating Mach 5 flight conditions.
X-51 attached to a B-52H for testing on 1 May 2013
NASA X-43
Videos
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 specific
Boeing X-51 Waverider
…AFRL to develop a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet engine which led to the development of the SJX61 engine. The SJX61 engine was originally meant for the NASA X-43C, which was eventually canceled. The engine was applied to the AFRL's Scramjet Engine Demonstrator program in late 2003. The scramjet flight test vehicle…
Pegasus rocket booster accelerating NASA's X-43A (dark object mounted on nose) shortly after ignition during test flight (March 2, 2004)
Artist's concept of X-43A with scramjet attached to the underside
NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the X-43A hypersonic research vehicle (March 27, 2004)
Full-scale model of the X-43 plane in Langley's 8-foot (2 m), high-temperature wind tunnel