The Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: NASA X-43

Thursday, October 23rd 2014. | Transportation

NASA X-43 is named as the fastest accelerating aircraft in the world. This hypersonic aircraft was one of members in the X-plane series. The purpose of this creation is to fulfill the Hyper X program of NASA. It is called as the fastest one because it can reach the top speed at 11,000 km per hour or 7,000 miles per hour. There are various kinds of modification and high technologies used on the aircrafts. On the top part of X-43, people can see a winged booster rocket. Then it was replaced. The engineer decided to use a secret to make it reach the intended altitude and speed. Check out the details about the fastest accelerating aircraft below:

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: Purpose

Let’s find out the purpose of the establishment of NASA X-43. As I have stated before this aircraft is used as a part of the Hyper –X program. The engine for the aircraft is created based on the collaboration for some various American space agencies and contractors. GASL was the company responsible to build the engine. The X-43A was created by Micro Craft Inc.

NASA X-43 Pic

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: The experiment

The main function for this X-43 is to test the hypersonic technology on an aircraft. NASA collaborated with Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California and Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia for the project of Hyper-X Phase I. The lead center was the Langley Research center which is responsible to experiment with the hypersonic technology used on the aircrafts. The flight research was used the guidance of Dryden Flight Research.

NASA X-43 Pictures

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: Cost of the program

The cost of the program is not cheap. This seven year old program cost around $230 million. The main purpose to fight validates the design method, hypersonic technology and scramjet propulsion. However, the project of X-43 was stopped after X-51 used to replace the old aircraft.

NASA X-43

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: Test

The body of the aircraft did not rely on the wing for it had a lifting body design. The small uplifted test happened when the aircraft was on air. This aircraft had the length at 3.7 meter. The weight of X-43 was around 1.300 kilogram or 3,000 pounds. The body was designed to travel comfortably on air in full high speed. When the test was over, it crashed on the Pacific Ocean.

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft Test

Fastest Accelerating Aircraft: The third version

The third version of the aircraft was called X-43A. It was tested on 16 November 2004 with the altitude at 43,166 feet. The high speed was at 6,598 miles per hour. It can reach the altitude at 110,000 feet.