A Study of Hypersonic Aircraft

Possible characteristics and requirements of future hypersonic aircraft, as determined from a current NASA Flight Research Center study, are examined. The effect of hypersonic speed on range is shown to offer sufficient potential to warrant serious consideration for future missions. Some hypersonic propulsion systems and their regions of operation are reviewed. Several possible configurations of hypersonic aircraft are presented, and the effect of various fuels is considered. Sonic-boom overpressures for future hypersonic aircraft are examined.