A ground crew at Edwards Air Force Base makes the final checks June 13, 2011, to the X-51A Waverider scramjet prior to its second test flight. Affixed to a B-52H Stratofortress, the Waverider was flown over the Pacific Ocean and launched.
Hypersonic flight testing —
A ground crew at Edwards Air Force Base makes the final checks June 13, 2011, to the X-51A Waverider scramjet prior to its second test flight. Affixed to a B-52H Stratofortress, the Waverider was flown over the Pacific Ocean and launched.
U.S. Air Force
On the flightline of Edwards Air Force Base, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young prepares to upload the X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle to a B-52 Stratofortress July 17, 2009, for testing.
Hypersonic flight testing —
On the flightline of Edwards Air Force Base, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young prepares to upload the X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle to a B-52 Stratofortress July 17, 2009, for testing.
U.S. Air Force
An X-51 Scramjet-Waverider mock-up hangs inside the Benefield Anechoic Facility during the vehicle's antenna testing January 29, 2008, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Hypersonic flight testing —
An X-51 Scramjet-Waverider mock-up hangs inside the Benefield Anechoic Facility during the vehicle's antenna testing January 29, 2008, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
U.S. Air Force
An X-51A Waverider was successfully launched from a B-52 Stratofortress, like the one shown here, on May 26, 2010. It was the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight to date and accelerated to Mach 6.
Hypersonic flight testing —
An X-51A Waverider was successfully launched from a B-52 Stratofortress, like the one shown here, on May 26, 2010. It was the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight to date and accelerated to Mach 6.
U.S. Air Force
An Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress carries an X-51A Waverider prior to the scramjet's first hypersonic flight test on March 26, 2010. Air Force engineers have made design modifications to the three remaining X-51A demonstrators and plan to resume the hypersonic flight test program in early spring of 2011.
Hypersonic flight testing —
An Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress carries an X-51A Waverider prior to the scramjet's first hypersonic flight test on March 26, 2010. Air Force engineers have made design modifications to the three remaining X-51A demonstrators and plan to resume the hypersonic flight test program in early spring of 2011.
U.S. Air Force
A B-52H Stratofortress taxis to the runway at Edwards Air Force Basecarrying the X-51A Waverider scramjet on June 13, 2011. It was the second test flight of the Waverider and upon completion provided significant hypersonic research data to program engineers.
Hypersonic flight testing —
A B-52H Stratofortress taxis to the runway at Edwards Air Force Basecarrying the X-51A Waverider scramjet on June 13, 2011. It was the second test flight of the Waverider and upon completion provided significant hypersonic research data to program engineers.
U.S. Air Force