X-51A WaveRider Fails its Latest Test

摘要

The third flight test of a U.S. Air Force Boeing-built X-51A WaveRider ended in failure this summer when a control fin malfunctioned and directional stability of the unique air vehicle was lost and the hypersonic X-51A plummeted into the Pacific Ocean some 9-1/2 miles below. The hypersonic speed range is 4.5 to 6.5 Mach or 3,335 to 4,820 miles per hour. The first test was flown on May 26, 2010 and the WaveRider reached a maximum speed of about 5 Mach number or 3,700mph (4.88 or 3,618mph actual).