Brits To Crash Test a Scramjet 314
hywel_ap_ieuan writes "The BBC is reporting that a the "Hyshot consortium" will be testing a scramjet called Hyshot III in Australia on Friday. The fun part: "If everything goes to plan, the experiment will begin at a height of 35 km. As the engine continues its downward path the fuel in the scramjet is expected to automatically ignite. The scientists will then have just six seconds to monitor its performance before the £1m engine eventually crashes into the ground.""
They should pool resources (Score:5, Funny)
The best kind of Science! (Score:5, Funny)
Pilot's motto: (Score:5, Funny)
> "If everything goes to plan, the experiment will begin at a height of 35 km. As the engine continues its downward path the fuel in the scramjet is expected to automatically ignite. The scientists will then have just six seconds to monitor its performance before the £1m engine eventually crashes into the ground."
Revised for 2006: "We'll settle for one out of three these days... as long as you have a hell of a lot of it to compensate."
not the right way to start (Score:5, Funny)
Then again, the British did usher in the passener jet age with the Comet [bbc.co.uk].
I know nothing about this stuff (Score:4, Funny)
but couldn't they build it to survive impact into the ocean, and then retrieve it?
I seem to remember the US space program doing this when they first went to the moon. And that man who singlehandedly built the rocket and went to the moon. What was his name? Apollo Creed? Anyways Tom Hanks was really great in that movie. Forest Gump I think it was.
Crash! (Score:5, Funny)
On its descent the engine is expected to reach a top speed of Mach 7.6 or over 9,000km/ hour.
I think crash is a bit of an understatement!
They should have just talked to the Americans (Score:5, Funny)
poor pilot (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Pilot's motto: (Score:5, Funny)
Scramjet pointed straight down. Airspeed, check.
Getting paid to destructively test a million pound device, wow. That'd be so cool. Brains, check.
Looks like they've got 3/3.
Only can imagine the initial conversation... (Score:3, Funny)
"So let's see, in short your plan is to fly a plane up to 35 kilometers in height above the mainland of Australia, switch off the engine, let it drop down with a highly experimental engine - this 'scramjet' - that you suppose would then go off automatically and accelerate the vehicle to a phenomenal speed, finishing it all off with a nice crash of that same million dollar plane into the ground ?"
"Oh yeah mate, blimey, that's it - you got it in one row !"
"You ever done this before ?"
"Nah, if I would ave, I wouldn't be standing here mate, eh ?"
"And this 'scramjet', it would ignite automatically ?"
"Sure, that's what the manual says anyhow"
"And while it sores over our Australian mainland with this high velocity, and when it enters the ground in the final stage, it would not have reached any, say, 'populated' areas?"
"Nah mate, only a couple'a'dingos probably. Everything should be fine, unless things go wrong, but that's why we're testing eh, aye?"
"You're absolutely right, I guess... Here's your money, and now don't screw up !"
"Sure thing, won't screw up, and I will tell the same to the monkey that drives the controls ! Cheers mate !"
Re:Pilot's motto: (Score:4, Funny)
New pilot's motto: "Always review the flight plan before committing to a mission."
Does this mean that (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Weapon? (Score:1, Funny)
I can't wait... (Score:4, Funny)
Scramjet (Score:2, Funny)
Re:One million GBP? (Score:3, Funny)
Only on Slashdot (Score:5, Funny)
Uk to Aus (Score:2, Funny)
looks like ther planning on taking the direct route....
Re:Crash! (Score:4, Funny)
How right you are! I'd expect something more like an Earth-Shattering KABOOM!
Six seconds? (Score:3, Funny)
-At-choo!
-Dude, WTF? Hit the RECORD BUTTON!
-What?
*CRASH*
-Ah, nevermind.
Re:Weapon? (Score:3, Funny)
NeoThermic
Re:Just use NASA (Score:3, Funny)
Mythbusters Episode (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Not the Brits (Score:3, Funny)
I'll tell you the same thing I tell my wife....! (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like... (Score:5, Funny)
The scientists will then have just six seconds to monitor its performance before the £1m engine eventually crashes into the ground.
Replace the word "scientists" with "consumers", "£1m" with "$5b", and "engine" with "OS." Also, add the phrase "If it boots," before the statement.
cranky! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Pilot's motto: (Score:2, Funny)
Re:They should pool resources (Score:3, Funny)
"Brist say: As we suspected, scramjets and crashing into earth don't mix."
Re:They should pool resources (Score:3, Funny)
Re:They should pool resources (Score:2, Funny)
Good God Man, what've they done to his face?! (Score:1, Funny)
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41471000/jp
Obligatory (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Dee You See Tee (Score:2, Funny)