1. INTRODUCTION ( Hyperplane Seminar )

Hyperplane X-43 ( USA )

Speeds greater than Mach 5 are called hypersonic, equivalent to about one mile per second or approximately 3,600 miles per hour at sea level. A regular passenger plane flies at 0.8 Mach while fast military jets fly at Mach 2. SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet flies at Mach 3.2. The fastest rocket plane, X-15 flied once at Mach 6.6 way back in 1960. Russian jets (unmanned) have flown at Mach 6.4. Pretty evident as it is, flying at hypersonic speeds is difficult. According to NASA it is "one of the greatest aeronautical research challenges”. The main technical challenges are the development of non rocket engines and also the development of composite materials which can withstand the heat produced at this speeds .There is a wide range of application and scope for this technology. Many countries have started developing this technology, but it is still in a nascent stage. Most successful of the hyper planes developed so far is X-43.Thus we can analyze the working and technology of X-43 to learn more about hyperplanes .Also the key technological requirement is a scramjet engine which is more essential to sustain hypersonic speeds. Due to its wider applications in defense and in space transport India is also developing a hyperplane called Avatar, which is mainly for defense uses. Thus once fully developed this technology could bring a revolution in space transport.