From: schillin@spock.usc.edu   
      
   kenw@kmsi.net writes:   
      
   >schillin@spock.usc.edu (John Schilling) wrote:   
   >>kenw@kmsi.net writes:   
      
   >>>SCRAMjets would seem to have limited value if they can only be launched   
   >>>via rocket.   
      
   >>Why?  If the only purpose of the rocket is to accelerate the scramjet   
   >>to scramjet operating speeds, well, rockets are the absolute best choice   
   >>there is for accelerating quickly to hypersonic speeds.  Turbojets can   
      
   >Rockets, as you point out, kinda suck for aircraft because they burn so   
   >much fuel.  For craft that may need to cycle multiple times between   
   >supersonic and hypersonic (if you'll accept that terminology) operation   
   >during a single flight, rockets are at a serious disadvantage.   
      
      
   Perhaps, but I don't see how there would ever *be* any "craft that need to   
   cycle multiple times between supersonic and hypersonic operation during   
   a single flight".   
      
   What mission did you have in mind?  And no, ultra-fast jet fighters   
   dogfighting all over a flight envelope that extends into the hypersonic,   
   aren't going to happen.  The hypersonic missions the military is actually   
   interested in, only require accelerating once.   
      
      
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