The Aurora Top-Secret Hypersonic Spy Plane

a reply to: AuroraZ7

Alarming how?

Alarming that it took 100 years to achieve.

a reply to: AuroraZ7

Um, it's incredible that in 60 years we went from wood and fabric biplanes to Mach 3 flight.

Amazing indeed.

I am implying that Aviation as a whole has evolved amazingly in all aspects.

Well you could say the same for most new inventions - computers for example which have actually allowed the aviation industry to change.

I might be a little bit open to a good beat down here but I dont mind being the devils advocate.

Has aviation really come on that far?

Its still uses 2 basic components - lift (whether created by the shape of a wing or tiny moving parts controlled by computers to make lift) or sheer power - rockets / thrust vectoring in the Harrier.

What has really changed - a piston engine for a jet engine, the discovery of new metals and composites and new manufacturing techniques. Lighter than air through balloons/airships?

Even the engine - it still relies on pulling in air and pushing it out, is that really a huge step ;-)

Formula 1 Racing was at the forefront of carbon fiber composite technology advancements for some time. That has helped advance aircraft because they are lighter they can be bigger (A380)

I think things like sonic plasma to reduce drag (or whatever) is an advancement.

Perhaps worthy a thread of its own, the Chicken and the Egg.

If Lockheed Martin can create this new power generation thing you could see a whole new type of aircraft - thinking the aircraft carrier in the sky (no links to the RC powered one please).

I think (and it might already be out there) that but something that changes the rules of lift vs gravity, that can change somehow or use the laws of physics in a different way would be a true advancement.

I think actually, alot of things have evolved so much faster than aviation that in turn has allowed aviation to evolve, but in my humble opinion, Aviation has not evolved fast enough. In the main, it still relies on burning massive amounts of fossil fuels to create lift and propulsion.

I may not have thought long and hard about this response, or whether I believe my own post and I am truly amazed by aircraft, I love them. Swing wings, thrust vectoring and the sheer size of some of them but my airshow favourite was the Comet (Nimrod) at Farnborough in the 1990's and a post recently here showing a 707 doing a barrel roll!

Has it really come far enough?

Well, James Cameron did have to wait 15 years before he could make Avatar

I'm in agreement mate,aviation though is a very new aspect in discovery when appeased to alot of other inventions.

As for Avatar,that was worth the wait!

a reply to: Forensick

I think (and it might already be out there) that but something that changes the rules of lift vs gravity, that can change somehow or use the laws of physics in a different way would be a true advancement.

I believe this is why the higgs field/boson is so important. Now that we know that it is really there we can eventually figure out how to manipulate it, thus manipulating an objects mass. Ultimately ending up with "anti-gravity".

According to Skunkworks they had worked anti gravity out in the 50,s.

a reply to: Blackfinger

they worked something out. i can tell you that for sure.

it's fast, very fast. dead silent. sure as hell doesn't seem to be using a jet to get around. but oh boy does it ever.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Hi Bassplyr

Just to clarify, are you claiming you know of and have witnessed a supersonic or hypersonic platform that makes absolutely no noise in atmospheric flight?

Cheers
Robbie

a reply to: stratsys-sws

Yes

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Sounds good, so how in the hell do you do that effectively?

originally posted by: Zaphod58
Um, it's incredible that in 60 years we went from wood and fabric biplanes to Mach 3 flight.

Well, we did spend an awful lot of money on it.

originally posted by: Michet
Well, James Cameron did have to wait 15 years before he could make Avatar

And in that time you think he'd come up with a more original plot line.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Hi Bassplyr,

Do you mean completely silent? Sorry, I just want to confirm this before I ask you to explain. I'm well aware of methods for silent propulsion, but any object moving through the atmosphere makes noise...it's simple physics - moving air means noise, displacing air means noise. I don't want to call BS Bassplyr as I respect your contribution but this just seems implausible so I wanted to give you the opportunity to explain. Hope that's ok.

Cheers
Robbie

a reply to: Zaphod58

Things sure HAVE slowed down...like we are being ...halted.

a reply to: stratsys-sws

Psst... Hey, look over here...