Uh....how fast can that plane go...?

[lspencer534]

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) just announced that it has lost contact with an experimental airplane. Shortly after separating from its booster rocket the plane began flying on its own and has not been heard from. The plane flies at 13,000 mph, and it generates heat in the thousands of degrees. Its anticipated use is to be able to deliver military support anywhere in the world within an hour. (I guess we don't know where it's going, but it's gonna get there PDQ.)

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww22/lspencer534/flight.jpg

[themonk]

Hmmmmm, and how exactly does this thing slow down once it reaches top speed?

[navyndi2]

Holy chit that's fast

[Datawiz]

hmmmmm, and how exactly does this thing slow down once it reaches top speed?

splash!

[Skia]

Hmmmmm, and how exactly does this thing slow down once it reaches top speed?

Really really large Brembo brakes. :yesnod:

[lspencer534]

Crashes into the ocean. :D

That's what this model was expected to do after the data was collected. A previous plane like it was tested, and it did crash into the ocean. I assume that the completed model will be unmanned.

[NeedSpeed]

That's like Mach 20 :willy:

[son93sl2]

holy shit! but I best I could beat it's reaction time off the line. :-p

[sxeC6]

HAL has taken control of it and use it as part of the plan for computers to rule the world.

[lspencer534]

That's like Mach 20 :willy:

Yep! Fcuking incredible. Brings up another question: Let's say it launches some kind of bombs. Aren't the bombs going to launch slower than the speed of the plane? If so, what happens? Will the bomb ever get out of its "muzzle"?

[sxeC6]

Yep! Fcuking incredible. Brings up another question: Let's say it launches some kind of bombs. Aren't the bombs going to launch slower than the speed of the plane? If so, what happens? Will the bomb ever get out of its "muzzle"?





Are you talking bombs or bullets?

Bullets fired forward will leave at muzzle velocity plus the planes speed and when fired aft will be plane speed less muzzle velocity in relation to a fixed point on the ground.

As for bombs being dropped, they would be at the plane's speed until gravity and air resistance slowed them. If they bombing N. Korea, say, the bombs would have to be released over Moscow.

[_Nomad_]

The plane went so fast it entered a time warp.
When it finally slows down it will find the earth ruled by apes.

[Rob]

It is a missle...and if this test failed, the whole program will be scrapped.

It's Do or Die Time For The Mach 20 Missile (http://gizmodo.com/5829339/its-do-or-die-time-for-the-mach-20-missile)

The idea behind the project is to develop an early strike weapons system that'll hit any location on the earth within an hour. DARPA had the idea of using a triangular-shaped aircraft, known as the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2, that will strike a target with pinpoint accuracy. It'll replace a conventional ICBM missile attack which could be mistaken for a nuclear strike, a misunderstanding that could lead to World War III. The first trial of this aircraft crashed after nine minutes when it spiraled out of control and was never found.

[lspencer534]

Are you talking bombs or bullets?

Bullets fired forward will leave at muzzle velocity plus the planes speed and when fired aft will be plane speed less muzzle velocity in relation to a fixed point on the ground.

As for bombs being dropped, they would be at the plane's speed until gravity and air resistance slowed them. If they bombing N. Korea, say, the bombs would have to be released over Moscow.

I get it now. Thanks!

[BuckyThreadkiller]

I get the impression its a kinetic weapon. At that speed, just hitting a facility would pretty much ruin people's day. Kinda like the old "Rods from God" concept where sticks of depleted uranium would simply be dropped from orbiting satellites.

No explosives necessary when an artificial meteor hits.

[Datawiz]

"Rods from God"

Doesn't Petey have a t-shirt that says that?

[lspencer534]

sounds like a bad porn movie name.

I kinda like it.... :leaving:

[NeedSpeed]

Are you talking bombs or bullets?

Bullets fired forward will leave at muzzle velocity plus the planes speed and when fired aft will be plane speed less muzzle velocity in relation to a fixed point on the ground.

As for bombs being dropped, they would be at the plane's speed until gravity and air resistance slowed them. If they bombing N. Korea, say, the bombs would have to be released over Moscow.

I wonder what the wind speed would do to the bullet after it left the muzzle.

I guess it would be ok since it's probably more areodynamic than the plane.

[snide]

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) just announced that it has lost contact with an experimental airplane. Shortly after separating from its booster rocket the plane began flying on its own and has not been heard from. The plane flies at 13,000 mph, and it generates heat in the thousands of degrees. Its anticipated use is to be able to deliver military support anywhere in the world within an hour. (I guess we don't know where it's going, but it's gonna get there PDQ.)

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww22/lspencer534/flight.jpg

It used to look cool...

[Mark C5]

Are you talking bombs or bullets?

Bullets fired forward will leave at muzzle velocity plus the planes speed and when fired aft will be plane speed less muzzle velocity in relation to a fixed point on the ground.

As for bombs being dropped, they would be at the plane's speed until gravity and air resistance slowed them. If they bombing N. Korea, say, the bombs would have to be released over Moscow.

But what if the plane was on a treadmill?

[joecaver]

who built it?

[oahuyahoo]

I was wondering why all the dead fish were washing up on the shore.

[ApexOversteer]

The plane went so fast it entered a time warp.
When it finally slows down it will find the earth ruled by apes.

You have no idea man, no idea at all...

[78SA]

Looks like a lot of people missed this one. :leaving: