Revolutionary jet engine tested

[FLO]

A new jet engine designed to fly at seven times the speed of sound appears to have been successfully tested.

The scramjet engine, the Hyshot III, was launched at Woomera, 500km north of Adelaide in Australia, on the back of a two stage Terrier-Orion rocket.

Once 314km up, the Hyshot III fell back to Earth, reaching speeds analysts hope will have topped Mach 7.6 (9,000km/h).

It is hoped the British-designed Hyshot III will pave the way for ultra fast, intercontinental air travel.

An international team of researchers is presently analysing data from the experiment, to see if it met its objectives.

The scientists had just six seconds to monitor its performance before the £1m engine crashed into the ground.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4832254.stm

[GordonCopestake]

It that one of those new slush Hydrogen engine planes?

[The Warthog]

If they get this into service, the world's going to get a lot smaller, for those who can afford the tickets.

[Mick.G.]

London to Sydney in 2 hour's! :shock:

Would be like having a day out at the seaside

Mick

[Mancunian Lee]

I cant find the link now but there's a detailed article on the scramjet engine from when NASA tested it back in 2004. Sounds like excellent technology though, 2 hours to Sydney sounds crazy fast

Not the link i read but its all i can find atm http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.html

[The Warthog]

London to Sydney in 2 hour's! :shock:

Would be like having a day out at the seaside

Mick

Especially when you'd get tied up in traffice for four hours two and from the airport, both ways.