this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2024
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The “revolutionary” air-breathing engine could, in theory, lift an aircraft from a runway to more than 30km (18.6 miles) into the stratosphere and continuously accelerate it to 16 times the speed of sound.

At this velocity, even the longest intercontinental flights could take just one or two hours while consuming less fuel compared with conventional jet engines.

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[–] Rosco 53 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'll wait until other countries validate the findings, or until someone makes a working prototype, before getting excited. Seems like it's one of those "too good to be true" stories like the LK-99. Hype in tech and science almost always leads to disappointment.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, no. Just no. Absolutely no. Faster than everything else.and higher than everything else and all of that by burning less energy? Come on people, stop falling for this kind of crap.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)
[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago

This article is bullshit: they're reporting that a blueprint was made. No demonstration, no proof of it working.

Rotary detonation isn't a new concept and GE has demonstrated a rotary detonation scramjet for 0 - Mach 5.

https://www.geaerospace.com/press-release/other-news-information/ge-aerospace-demonstrates-hypersonic-dual-mode-ramjet-rotating

If you really think that 0 to Mach 16 is within reach with current technology RDEs I have a bridge to sell you.

Darpa has all the money of God and they've been throwing billions at the exact problem of rotary detonation. Everybody knows that detonation is more fuel efficient than deflagration and that turbine engines are holding jet aircraft back from hypersonic flight.

When they make a Mach 16 demonstrator I'll believe them. Until then I'm still very excited for the demonstrated and actual capabilities of RDE Scramjets.

[–] pastermil 17 points 10 months ago

That's nice...

...when I see it in production.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago

If that engine actually works, it would be cool to see it on a space plane. Mach 16 is nearly 2/3rds of orbital velocity. If you could go that fast on an air breathing engine, you wouldn't need to carry nearly as much oxygen to get into LEO.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I imagine that theoretical speed could only be used for drone planes.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You could ride on it, but you’d need a cowboy hat.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (3 children)

If a space suit is needed, would the hat go inside or outside the suit?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Outside, why wear a hat if no one can see it ?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

That's why cowboy hats have folded brims.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I imagine you would need a cowboy hat that would also supply oxygen.

[–] Ummdustry 1 points 10 months ago

it pokes through like a space marines pony tail

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

@Zerush @master5o1 Speed is not a problem. Acceleration is.