HOME | DD

Description
Boeing X-51

X-51A WaveRider
Description and Purpose:
The X-51A WaveRider program is a consortium of the U.S. Air Force, DARPA, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and Boeing to demonstrate hypersonic flight capability. The X-51A will demonstrate a scalable, robust endothermic hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet propulsion system in flight, high temperature materials, airframe/engine integration and other key technologies within the hypersonic Mach 4.5 to 6.5 range.
During its first flight test in May 2010, after being dropped from a B-52, the solid rocket ATACMS booster ignited and took the X-51A WaveRider to approximately Mach 4.5 at which point the scramjet engine took-over and accelerated the vehicle to a flight speed of approximately Mach 5.0 for approximately 200 seconds. The test was the longest of its kind, beating the previous record of 10 seconds set by the X-41. Three additional test flights are planned for the X-51A demonstration program in the future.
The X-51A WaveRider is setting the foundation for several hypersonic applications, including access to space, reconnaissance-strike, global reach and commercial transportation.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is the propulsion system provider. Vehicle integration is performed by Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems, headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Crew: Not applicable
Length: 26 ft in (7.9 m)
Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)

Maximum speed: Mach 7+

Description
Boeing X-51

X-51A WaveRider
Description and Purpose:
The X-51A WaveRider program is a consortium of the U.S. Air Force, DARPA, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and Boeing to demonstrate hypersonic flight capability. The X-51A will demonstrate a scalable, robust endothermic hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet propulsion system in flight, high temperature materials, airframe/engine integration and other key technologies within the hypersonic Mach 4.5 to 6.5 range.
During its first flight test in May 2010, after being dropped from a B-52, the solid rocket ATACMS booster ignited and took the X-51A WaveRider to approximately Mach 4.5 at which point the scramjet engine took-over and accelerated the vehicle to a flight speed of approximately Mach 5.0 for approximately 200 seconds. The test was the longest of its kind, beating the previous record of 10 seconds set by the X-41. Three additional test flights are planned for the X-51A demonstration program in the future.
The X-51A WaveRider is setting the foundation for several hypersonic applications, including access to space, reconnaissance-strike, global reach and commercial transportation.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is the propulsion system provider. Vehicle integration is performed by Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems, headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Crew: Not applicable
Length: 26 ft in (7.9 m)
Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)

Maximum speed: Mach 7+