New Aircraft Speed Record

On 6/20/2005 Guinness recognized NASA X-43A as the new (white) record holder. The X-43A offically hold the speed record at Mach 9.6. The X-43A is a hypersonic scramjet-powered research aircraft designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 10 per NASA.

What do you believe holds the unofficial (black) aircraft speed record?

Official data does not included "Black Projects." As such:
"Unoffical" would likely be the Aurora.
"Officially" would be the SR-71 Blackbird or X-15.






seekerof

[edit on 27-6-2005 by Seekerof]

Originally posted by Seekerof
Official data does not included "Black Projects." As such:
"Unoffical" would likely be the Aurora.
"Officially" would be the SR-71 Blackbird or X-15.






seekerof


[edit on 27-6-2005 by Seekerof]

The new official 'white' record holder is the X-43A with a speed of Mach 9.6.

I assume the unofficial 'black' record to be the Aurora. What is the estimate speed of the Aurora?

Your correct, Silent Professional....typo implying 'previous' "Official."

As to this:

What is the estimate speed of the Aurora?

This might help:

If the Aurora is equipped with either pulse-detonation or scramjets, as has been speculated....this aircraft could reach cruise speeds of roughly Mach 5 to Mach 8....

Fastest Aircraft in the World


Non-confirmed speculation is that it may well exceed Mach 9.5+.

Also:
How do Aurora Pilots stay alive?






seekerof

[edit on 27-6-2005 by Seekerof]

I always assumed (wrongly it seems) that a pilot needed to be present in order to set a speed record, oh hum.

If you don't want to be picky, I believe that the space shuttle (and Buran) re-enters the atmosphere at around mach 23+ . It's about as autonomous as the X-43A. (booster on the X-43 vs booster on the Space shuttle.)

[edit on 6/28/2005 by soulforge]

Unofficially, I dont know, I'd have to say some sort of single stage surface to orbit space plane, possibly the aurora.

There has to be a distinction and categories manned, unmanned, and do rockets or satellites count? Those things in space are going way faster than anything here on earth.


[edit on 1-7-2005 by WestPoint23]

EDIT-Double Post

[edit on 1-7-2005 by WestPoint23]

Ni idea mate... But thanks for the white...