Boeing Aircraft Sets Hypersonic Flight Record

[mhm]

An aircraft designed by Boeing has made history by achieving the longest ever hypersonic flight by a jet-fuel powered aircraft.

The X-51A WaveRider flew for three-and-a-half minutes at five times the speed of sound, the US Air Force has confirmed.

The last of four unmanned experimental military aircraft built by Boeing flew at a top speed of Mach 5.1 over the Pacific Ocean on May 1, the Air Force said.

The total flight covered 230 nautical miles in just over six minutes before the hypersonic cruiser plunged into the ocean.

The Air Force says it was the longest of the four X-51A test flights and the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever.
http://news.sky.com/story/1086742/boeing-aircraft-sets-hypersonic-flight-record