New propulsion system could enable jets to reach speeds up to Mach 17 without releasing powerful shock waves that damage surroundings

• The new propulsion system contains a chamber to stabilize detonation
• Instead of detonation travelling up or down, it is captured on a ramp
• This allows it to be used as a power source and not be released around the craft
• Experts conducted an experiment that stabilized it for three seconds
• This is the first time a detonation has been shown to be stabilized experimentally
• Scientists say this method will provide speeds from Mach 6 to Mach 17

more…

so nuclear pulse propulsion is back on

> Scientists say this method will provide speeds from Mach 6 to Mach 17

Ramjet propulsion from the late 1950s can manage up to Mach 6. So go for it.

There’s going to have be some big advances in metallurgy. That’s always been the other half of the problem with super-fast aircraft.

No point in having a Mach 17 engine if the wings and fuselage can’t stand the heating from air friction.

captain_spalding said:

There’s going to have be some big advances in metallurgy. That’s always been the other half of the problem with super-fast aircraft.

No point in having a Mach 17 engine if the wings and fuselage can’t stand the heating from air friction.

but but they can just fly higher

SCIENCE said:

captain_spalding said:

There’s going to have be some big advances in metallurgy. That’s always been the other half of the problem with super-fast aircraft.

No point in having a Mach 17 engine if the wings and fuselage can’t stand the heating from air friction.

but but they can just fly higher

Both interesting comments. For sustained flight over Mach 3, the fuselage can start to glow cherry red.

As for higher, the Space Shuttle flies at Mach 25 during reentry.

More on the story….

World first: Oblique wave detonation engine may unlock Mach 17 aircraft

UCF researchers say they’ve trapped a sustained explosive detonation, fixed in place, for the first time, channeling its enormous power into thrust in a new oblique wave detonation engine that could propel an aircraft up to 17 times the speed of sound, potentially beating the scramjet as a hypersonic propulsion method.

more…