1. Robert J. Collier Trophy Nominee: X-51A WaveRider
Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman
It is a pleasure to be with you today, representing the X- 51A Supersonic Combustion Ramjet Government Industry Team.
On May 1, 2013, over the Pacific Missile Test Range, they completed a history-making program, demonstrating the performance, efficiency, and safety that open a new era in flight.
We believe that the team’s advancement in hypersonic propulsion has earned the X-51 the right to join the ranks of other Collier Trophy winners.
“X-51A WaveRider Team for demonstrating that sustained supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) powered flight is possible and significantly advancing progress towards hypersonic power projection, responsive and affordable space access, and global hypersonic mobility.” 1

2. … We Are On a Trajectory to Enter the 22nd Century at 6,000 mph …
Human Mobility Since 1800
… We Are On a Trajectory to Enter the 22nd Century at 6,000 mph …
Hypersonic Transport
6,000
Jetliner
Scramjet
600
Train
MPH 60
Turbofan
Since 1800, the world has witnessed a “ ” mph progression in global mobility, from the horse-drawn vehicle to the global-ranging airliner.
We’ve gone from Animal Power to Steam Power, through Piston Power to the Power of the Turbofan.
Now the X-51A Team has unlocked the power of the scramjet, opening a possible future where we extend this progression to 6,000 mph as we enter the 22nd Century.
Horse 6
Steam
1800
1900
2000
2100

3. Where Scramjets Fit Efficient use of fuel versus speed Efficiency
Mach 0
Mach 5
Mach 10
Speed
4000
1000
Turbojets
Scramjets
Ramjets
Specific Impulse (Isp-sec)
Efficiency
Efficient use of fuel versus speed
Rockets
The Supersonic Combustion Ramjet, or Scramjet, is more efficient for high-speed flight than other propulsion systems.
It is less complex than the gas turbine turbojet and turbofan.
It thrives in a heat and dynamic pressure environment where turbojets and conventional subsonic-combustion ramjets cannot.
Unlike the rocket, it does not need to carry its own oxidizer with it.
Looking at efficiency, measured by Specific Impulse (akin to “Miles per Gallon”), the scramjet is more than twice as efficient as a rocket at hypersonic speeds.

4. How a Scramjet Works Simplicity + Speed
Forebody & Inlet
Isolator
Combustor
Nozzle
Fuel Injection
Thrust
Supersonic Internal Flow
– Compress flow – Pre-combustion airflow stability – Supersonic air and fuel ignite, creating pressure – Expands flow to generate thrust Thermal Control – JP-7 fuel cools engine, improves combustion
Forebody & Inlet
The scramjet is a simple and technically elegant engine that offers unprecedented speed for an air-breathing system.
Unlike a conventional subsonic ramjet engine, the internal flow within the engine is supersonic, from the inlet through combustion and on through the exhaust nozzle.
Because of this, igniting a scramjet engine has been compared to lighting a match in a hurricane.
As well, these flows are extremely hot—more than 3,800 deg. F in the engine, and even 2,500 deg. F. at the inlet.
The X-51A was designed to burn conventional hydrocarbon fuel—JP-7 as used in the old Lockheed Blackbird—a more easily maintained, sustainable, and safer fuel, but difficult to ignite at very high speeds.
The engine itself was a unique and notable “first”—the world’s first thermally balanced scramjet engine, capable of extended operation without destroying itself.
Isolator
Combustor
Nozzle
Simplicity + Speed

5. An Integrated Aerospace Vehicle
X-51A WaveRider Design
Autonomous Precision Guidance
High Mach Thermal Protection
Light Weight Structures
Fuel-cooled Scramjet Engine
The X-51A was more than merely a flying engine.
It was a completely integrated aerospace vehicle, across the classic disciplines of aerodynamics, structures, propulsions, and controls.
It had a conventional structure of aluminum, Inconel, titanium, and tungsten, with composite fins and columbium leading edges.
It used proven thermal protection coatings and materials.
It had digital electronic flight and propulsion controls.
So the X-51A was very much a genuine aircraft, boosted to the point where its engine could ignite by a modified Army ATACMS booster.
Let’s review what it accomplished.
Conventional Materials
Off The Shelf Booster
An Integrated Aerospace Vehicle

6. X-51A Met All Its Objectives
“The X-51 took the field from a speculative science to practical engineering” Gen Mark Welsh, Chief of Staff, USAF
Flight test of a scramjet engine
Used hydrocarbon fuel
Ignited engine and operated to fuel depletion
Accelerated; showing thrust greater than drag
Demonstrated flight viability of engine
Acquired extensive ground and flight data
Proved the practicality of a scramjet powered vehicle
The chief got it right …
In May 2010, the X-51A began its flight test program, quickly demonstrating that one could indeed ignite and operate a thermally balanced JP-7-fueled scramjet.
In May 2013, the program concluded, having achieved all its program objectives.
It had demonstrated that air-breathing hypersonic flight did not demand exotic fuels, or throwaway engines.
It proved that a long-duration scramjet could operate essentially as long as it had fuel to run it.
It demonstrated as well that one could integrate a scramjet engine into a hypersonic cruiser shape, one that could be autonomously flown with great safety over great speeds and distances.
Now lets looks at the capstone flight, flight 4, and what we learned.

7. X-51A Flight Profile Altitude ~ 60Kft Range = 240 nm Off Run Separate
Boost
Flight 4 Data – 1 May 2013
Total Flight Time sec
Boosted Flight 31.0 sec
Engine Start 12.0 sec
Scramjet Run Time sec
Descent sec
Max Speed Mach 5.1
Max Altitude 63,500 ft
Distance nm
Here is the typical X-51A profile:
Boost into the upper atmosphere, transition into powered scramjet flight, scramjet acceleration through fuel depletion, and a series of descending maneuvers to acquire data to correlate computational fluid dynamics test predictions with the results of actual, dynamic flight test.
Note the scramjet run time during flight 4—more than twenty times longer than any previous scramjet engine of any sort has ever flown.
Range = 240 nm

8. Autonomy and Accuracy California38
California 36
Latitude (deg)
Los Angeles 34
During its flight, the X-51A was also a precisely controlled autonomous flying vehicle pioneering autonomous aircraft operations in the hypersonic arena, with unprecedented performance and safety.
It flew a precise, safe track right down the predicted flight path over the Pacific Missile Test Range. 32
-129
-127
-125
-123
-121
-119
Longitude (deg)

9. Accelerate To Fuel Depletion
Flight 4: Mach Versus Time
5.4
Fuel Depletion
5.2
Separation
5.0
4.8
Fuel Control Test
Mach Number
4.6
Maneuvering
Evaluation
Here is a graph showing speed during the final flight of the program: boost to altitude, deceleration after separation until scramjet ignition, then steady scramjet powered acceleration.
Note that towards the end, we “stepped on the accelerator,” modulating fuel flow to accelerate the X-51 even more.
It responded smartly, ran out of fuel, and then during its descent did a series of programed maneuvers, remaining completely under precise control until it dropped into the sea.
4.4
4.2
0.8 50
100
150
200
250
448
Mission Time (sec)

10. Ground and Flight Test Fidelity70 75 80
110 85 90 95
100
105
60 sec
100 sec
215 sec
235 sec
Flight 4
Flight to Ground Thrust Correlation – %
The X-51A demonstrated extraordinary fidelity between ground and flight test methodologies, proving the efficiency of computational fluid dynamics in the demanding environment of hypersonics.
What this shows is not only the comparison of actual flight test data from flights one and four to the pre-flight ground-based modeling data but also the program’s advancement in hypersonic computational fluid dynamics predictions.
Mission Time Since Launch

11. X-51A WaveRider In Action
We have a film showing the X-51A in action, from engine testing in the NASA 8-foot High Temperature Tunnel to the launch of flight 4 over the Pacific in May of last year.
The video of the actual flight is shown in comparison with a representation based on telemetry data on what the vehicle was actually doing moment by moment.
Still need to script the video when received from Joe.-als
100% American Designed, Manufactured, and Flown!

12. X-51A Success Kick Started Follow-On Funded Programs
X-51A Accomplishments
First proven practical reusable scramjet engine
Demonstrated sustained scramjet acceleration & thrust
First to burn a conventional storable hydrocarbon fuel
Demonstrated fully autonomous precision guided flight
World’s first thermally balanced scramjet engine
The X-51A accomplished a number of firsts.
While experimental scramjets had flown previously, they were incapable of reuse, destroyed themselves even as they functioned, and burned non-sustainable, and in some cases, unsafe, fuels.
Thanks to this program, we have gone from speculation to science, from the possible to the probable.
Because of the X-51, decision-makers had the confidence to proceed with fully funded follow-on programs.
X-51A Success Kick Started Follow-On Funded Programs

13. Scramjet Flight Begins Now…
2060
SCRAMJET ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
2030
Operationally Responsive Spacelift
2010
Large Hypersonic Missiles/ Small Launch Systems
X-51A
Thanks to the X-51A, we can contemplate a future aimed at that graphic we saw previously…
…a short-term future of joint service hypersonic air-breathing missiles and autonomous air vehicles ensuring the safety and security of America’s military, enhancing our ability to meet the combat challenges of an increasingly uncertain, dangerous world.
…a mid-term future of larger missiles and small space launch systems, ones extending both American power and reducing the costs per pound sent into orbit, the latter one of the most elusive and challenging goals within astronautics…
…and a long-term future of global ranging and global girdling hypersonic transports and space-lift systems.
As the Wright Flyer led to subsonic era, as the X-1 led to the supersonic era, the X-51 has pointed the way to our hypersonic future.
Hypersonic Vehicles
“Playing safe is probably the most unsafe thing in the world. You cannot stand still. You must go forward.” Robert J. Collier

14. X-51A WaveRider
The X-51A exemplifies the creativity and genius traditionally found within the American aerospace community.
The importance of its achievements culminating in 2013, in terms of performance, efficiency, and safety, embodies and befits the award of the Robert J. Collier Trophy.
Thank you all very much, and we’ll be happy to take your questions.
“X-51A WaveRider Team for demonstrating that sustained supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) powered flight is possible and significantly advancing progress towards hypersonic power projection, responsive and affordable space access, and global hypersonic mobility.”