Engine For Near-Orbital Speeds

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 9

Engine For Near-Orbital Speeds

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) PALO ALTO

(California), April 27. A new type of engine which may be able to propel airliners at near-orbital speed within the earth’s atmosphere was described yesterday by Major-General Irving L. Branch, of the United States Air Force. He said the engine, appropriately named Scramjet, could whisk airliners from New York to New Dehli, India, in one hour. MajorGeneral Branch, commander

of the Air Force flight test centre at Edwards Air Force Base, California, outlined the engine at the fourth symposium of advanced propulsion concepts. He called the Scramjet concept one of the most promising propulsion devices for future air and space travel. He predicted that Scramjet, technically supersonic combustion ramjet, would be able to propel aircraft and spacecraft at near orbital' speeds within the atmosphere—and could some day power space launch vehicles and aircraft efficiently and economically at speeds ranging from 2500 to 17,000 miles an hour. While Major-General Branch did not discuss the design of Scramjet, it was believed that it would more nearly resemble an advanced ramjet engine than, ; a rocket.

About 500 of the nation’s leading scientists are attending the three-day symposium, sponsored by the Air Force office of Scientific Research and United Aircraft Corporation. More than 30 technical papers on advanced forms of atmospheric and space systems will be presented.