4. HISTORY ( Seminar Hyperplane )

A Comparison SuT-4(USSR) and XB-70 Valkyre(USA)
X-15 Three views.
Bell X-1.(USAF)
Chuck Yeager(who took record in Bell X-1)
XB-70 Valkyre (USA)
SuT-4(USSR)

The history of hyperplanes begins with the development of X planes. The rocket powered Bell X1 flown in 1947 by Chuck Yeager was the first plane to fly faster than sound. This was the beginning of supersonic era of flights.

In 1960’s during cold war America developed XB-7O Valkyrie(Mach-3.08) to be used instead of ICBM’s . It was conceived in the 1960s as a strategic bomber that could deliver nuclear weapons. It holds the record for being the largest Experimental plane ever. It could fly at Mach 3.08 and achieve an altitude of 74,000 ft. Ultimately; it was only put to use as a research aircraft. It was simply too impractical when compared to an Inter-Continental ballistic Missile ( ICBM ).

At the same time during cold war time Soviets developed a plane similar to XB-70 , it is Su T4. The T-4, also called S100 (indicating that it was a prototype) first flew in 1972 and easily achieved Mach 1.28 at 12,000m. The aircraft completed a number of successful flight tests and showed a real promise of reaching its design requirements. The T-4 featured world's most advanced electrohydraulic, quadruple redundancy fly-by-wire system. When the nose of the aircraft was up and locked, the pilots had no forward visibility and all flying was on instruments.


The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAF, the NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. The record of Mach-6.7 was set by Pete Knight in the rocket powered X-15 in 1967.

3. BASIC TECHNICAL CHALLENGES ( Seminar Hyperplanes )

The basic technical challenge is to develop a non rocket engine which can attain hypersonic speeds. So far rocket engines are the ones which have attained hypersonic speeds. But they lack maneuverability which is required for a plane. Such powerful non rocket engines could be a great aeronautical challenge. Such engines have not been fully developed. The scramjet engine is the most widely accepted solution, but it is still in design and experimental stages of its development. The scramjets are air breathing engines which have great advantages.


The second technical challenge is the development of advanced materials including Titanium and its alloys and other composite materials that can handle the heat associated with hypervelocity flight. Great amount of heat is developed when planes fly above hypersonic speeds in the atmosphere and also during the re-entry time. The thermal protection shields used today are bulky and thus increases fuel consumption rates. Thus Titanium and its alloys have to be developed along with other composite materials. But the problem lies in the fact that main researches are conducted in defence laboratories which does not have much metalurgical experience.


The development of new cryogenic fuels and the new methods of handling them is a major challenge. Huge cryogenic tanks cannot be accommodated, therefore high calorific value fuels are needed which could burn completely at hypersonic combustion. Development in this area is also difficult.

2. THE NEED TO TRAVEL AT HYPERSONIC SPEEDS ( Seminar Hyperplanes )

There are many reasons why we should travel at hypersonic speeds.

Faster intercontinental travel is one major need. For this hyperplane X-3O was proposed which was expected to cover New York-Tokyo in around 1 hour.


Another major need is to allow seamless entry to space. To exit the atmosphere and park in LEO, a spacecraft must attain a speed of Mach 26(ouch), where it can either deliver payload which can be a satellite or even another vehicle that will travel further.


Other major uses are in defence fields. Here hyperplanes can be used for invincible spy planes and strategic bombers. USAF projects like the Hypersoar are hypersonic craft (Mach 10).


The major reason for the usefulness of the technology is because they can be used as reusable satellite launchers which could replace costly rocket missions.

They can thus be used as reusable missile launchers which could reduce cost and improve accuracy.


Our desire to constantly push the limits is also a reason for their development.

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.

ABSTRACT ( Hyperplane Seminar )

Abstract

Hyperplanes are multipurpose, fully reusable aerospace vehicles. These vehicles are using air-breathing engines and can take-off from any conventional airport. They are multipurpose vehicles in the sense that they be used for passenger or freight transport as well as satellite launching. The key enabling technology for hyper planes is scramjet engines which uses air breathing engine technology. The hyperplanes requires a booster rocket which will give it the supersonic velocity required for scramjet operation. Thus the hyperplanes require normal jet engines for horizontal take off, then a rocket to boost the velocity and a scramjet to sustain the hypersonic speed. Once operational it can even launch satellites at lesser costs compared to rockets. Many nations are working on hyperplane technology, which include USA, Russia, India etc.The only successful hypersonic flight was shown by X-43 of USA.The hyperplane Avatar which is developed by India is expected to be used as a reusable missile launcher. This would be the most modern technology which will revolutionize the modern day’s travel.Here we will discus about the working ,advantages ,disadvantages and various examples of hyperplanes.

SEMINAR ON HYPERPLANES (for MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)

Dear readers I would start posting a seminar topic on Hyperplanes ( planes traveling at hypersonic speeds).Don't confuse it with Hyperplanes in mathematics.This topic will be useful to many engineering students mainly mechanical and aeronautical.

I have prepared this seminar for my sixth semester mechanical engineering studies.Now I have completed my engineering degree.I am really happy to share this seminar topic.But it is a difficult topic for seminar since the technologies for hyperplanes are still in a nascent stage and research is mainly conducted by defense laboratories ,it is difficult to get more details.If you plan to take this seminar,you should update with the improvements that have been made at that time as it is a fastest evolving technology.

Hope it will provide some information to my dear readers.I will publish the abstract in my next post.

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