Skylon - British Space Plane

[Mossie]

Like sleek ships???  Here's another!

This is CFASTT-1 (Centre for Future Air-Space Transportation Technology), designed at the University of Strathclyde.    It uses the same SABRE engine and wing layout as Skylon but with a different aerodynamic profile.

I'm not sure, but Strathclyde Uni might be looking at the Skylon proposal and fleshing out a bit, certainly Reaction Engines have stated they're mostly focused on SABRE and will leave the rest to others.

Here's a fairly in depth paper with the details.  From what I can gather it's more about a computer modelling technique.
http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/41933/1/Brown_et_al_Towards_Robust_Aero_Thermodynamic_Predictions_for_Re_Usable_Single_Stage_to_Orbit_Vehicles.pdf

[zenrat]

Im just perplexed as to why anyone would want to fly from Brussels to Sydney?
Paris to Melbourne I can understand...

[Rheged]

Im just perplexed as to why anyone would want to fly from Brussels to Sydney?

Friend reading over my shoulder says he can quite understand anyone wanting to get away from Brussels (politically speaking)

How about Prestwick to Vancouver as an alternative?

[eatthis]

Like sleek ships???  Here's another!

This is CFASTT-1 (Centre for Future Air-Space Transportation Technology), designed at the University of Strathclyde.    It uses the same SABRE engine and wing layout as Skylon but with a different aerodynamic profile.

I'm not sure, but Strathclyde Uni might be looking at the Skylon proposal and fleshing out a bit, certainly Reaction Engines have stated they're mostly focused on SABRE and will leave the rest to others.

Here's a fairly in depth paper with the details.  From what I can gather it's more about a computer modelling technique.
http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/41933/1/Brown_et_al_Towards_Robust_Aero_Thermodynamic_Predictions_for_Re_Usable_Single_Stage_to_Orbit_Vehicles.pdf

i dread to think what the landing speed of them beasties is!

[martinbayer]

i dread to think what the landing speed of them beasties is!

Landing speed is projected at around 130 knots (65 m/sec) with crosswinds of up to 30 knots, according to the bottom of page 6 of the Skylon User's Manual (http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/tech_docs/SKYLON_User_Manual_rev1-1.pdf). Remember that landing mass is only a fraction of takeoff mass, and thus the wing loading at descent and landing is significantly reduced as compared to takeoff and ascent.

Martin

[Madoc]

Damn, but those look good!

[zenrat]

Im just perplexed as to why anyone would want to fly from Brussels to Sydney?

Friend reading over my shoulder says he can quite understand anyone wanting to get away from Brussels (politically speaking)

How about Prestwick to Vancouver as an alternative?

My point was neither Brussels nor Sydney are places I would want to be.
Maybe I should have said Brussels to Canberra - both have a lot in common.

UK to Australia at hypersonic speeds would be nice but how much is it going to cost?  Are these things ever likely to have cattle class tickets that the likes of me can afford?

But yeah, they do look great.

[McColm]

Maybe funding from Ryan Air, they know a thing about budget airlines?

[Rheged]

UK to Australia at hypersonic speeds would be nice but how much is it going to cost?  Are these things ever likely to have cattle class tickets that the likes of me can afford?

But yeah, they do look great.

I suppose that a Skylon of the King's Flight might be appropriate.

[NARSES2]

UK to Australia at hypersonic speeds would be nice but how much is it going to cost?  Are these things ever likely to have cattle class tickets that the likes of me can afford?

But yeah, they do look great.

I suppose that a Skylon of the King's Flight might be appropriate.

George VIII one presumes ? - assuming William goes for George that is and becomes VII. Can't see it being ready before then ? 

[Rheged]

UK to Australia at hypersonic speeds would be nice but how much is it going to cost?  Are these things ever likely to have cattle class tickets that the likes of me can afford?

But yeah, they do look great.

I suppose that a Skylon of the King's Flight might be appropriate.

George VIII one presumes ? - assuming William goes for George that is and becomes VII. Can't see it being ready before then ? 

Indeed.  That was exactly what I had in mind.

[JayBee]

Im just perplexed as to why anyone would want to fly from Brussels to Sydney?

Friend reading over my shoulder says he can quite understand anyone wanting to get away from Brussels (politically speaking)

How about Prestwick to Vancouver as an alternative?

My late Mother-out-law lived here in Prestwick, daughter No. 2 (my wifes older sister) lived, with family, in Vancouver. She NEVER stopped complaining that nobody flew Prestwick-Vancouver direct. 

[Weaver]

Im just perplexed as to why anyone would want to fly from Brussels to Sydney?

Friend reading over my shoulder says he can quite understand anyone wanting to get away from Brussels (politically speaking)

How about Prestwick to Vancouver as an alternative?

My point was neither Brussels nor Sydney are places I would want to be.

Maybe if you had homes in both, spending as much time as possible in a windowless, red-hot, carbon-fibre tube at 100,000 feet would be a preferable option...

[Weaver]

UK to Australia at hypersonic speeds would be nice but how much is it going to cost?  Are these things ever likely to have cattle class tickets that the likes of me can afford?

But yeah, they do look great.

I suppose that a Skylon of the King's Flight might be appropriate.

Well we'll have to build at least five to maintain Britain's image in the world: one for the Sultan of Brunei, one for the Kuwaiti royal family, one for the Emir of Quatar, and two for the Saudi royal family.....

[zenrat]

And one for President Kylie when we become a republic...