Japanese scientists have successfully test flown an unmanned scale model of a supersonic transport (SST) aircraft in Australia, more than three years after their initial test ended in a spectacular failure.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the experimental craft from the Woomera test range in the far north of South Australia on 10 October and soon after declared it a success. JAXA says the unpowered 1/10th-scale model flew for 15min, 22s and at its peak glided at Mach 2.
The 11.5m (37.7ft)-long model was launched from a rocket booster on which it flew piggyback. JAXA says the model separated from the booster rocket at around 62,300ft and glided back towards the launch site before parachuting to the ground. The model was also fitted with recovery airbags and the touchdown point was around 15km (8nm) west of the launch site.
Japan’s so-called National Experimental Supersonic Transport is envisaged as a 300-seat next-generation SST with a range of 10,200km and a 399t maximum take-off weight. The government-funded research and development project, which was launched in 1997, is intended to prepare the country for participation in any future international programme to develop a successor to the Concorde.
In July 2002 an initial test flight failed when the vehicle’s booster rocket spiralled out of control seconds after launch when the test vehicle separated from it on the launch pad. JAXA says the same scale model was used in last week’s test as damage from the 2002 failure was repaired, although “we modified many parts to increase the reliability of the systems”. Initially several flights were planned over 12 months in 2002 and 2003, but JAXA says there are now “no plans for additional flights”.
At the Paris air show in June, France and Japan announced an agreement to co-operate in researching new technologies that they hope will eventually lead to the return of supersonic commercial air travel. Under the agreement each side will contribute around ¥100 million ($920,000) annually over three years.
NICHOLAS IONIDES/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International