National Aero-Space Plane - NASP - X-30

[shockonlip]

I do have some interest in this, but find the size of the verticals to
be a bit excessive.

 

[Stargazer]

Another promotional leaflet of the "converged" design which I have not seen on this thread before:

 

[flateric]

sincere thanks for this!

 

[Stargazer]

the HALO (High Altitude Launching Option) proposed by Lockheed and dedicated to a preliminary exploration of the aerodynamic concepts implied in the X-30.
It was projected to be an airship of 17.7 meters that would be thrown by a SR-71 modified and it would reach speeds from Mach 10-12 to a altitude of 44200 meters.

Just a thought: could this HALO be related to the one that was supposed to be a secret British stealth aircraft in the 1990s? Here is an article found online and especially translated for this post:

The HALO

The HALO (High Altitude, Low Observable) is said to be a secret aircraft of triangular shape tested in United Kingdom skies. Rumours have it that the HALO is an unmanned prototype that might prefigure the next generation of stealth reconnaissance aircraft and play down the technology of the F-117A and the B-2 bomber. The HALO may be supersonic and fly to speeds up to 3000 mph. It is said to be developed at British Aerospace's Warton, Lancashire, facility.

The HALO has already been mentioned several times in British press. The January 5, 1997 edition of the Sunday Mirror reported: « Rumours about a possible British stealth aircraft by the name of HALO (High Altitude, Low Observable) have suddenly gained more credibility when a Lancashire photographer accidentally took a picture of one of those aircraft while he was busy shooting landscapes. The triangular aircraft mysteriously appeared on one of his pictures. "The strangest thing about it is how silent the aircraft is", said the photographer, who prefered to remain anonymous ».

Ufologist McAndrew explains that « hundreds of triangular UFOs have been spotted in England, especially over Lancashire. ». Such sightings were so numerous that the UFO received the nickname « Silent Vulcan ».

« Witnesses describe a 30-ft triangular silvery object, with no visible wings or engines » McAndrew said. « Others have observed these UFOs escorted by two Tornado jets ». The objects flies like nothing else. It can stop to a standstill then pass by and rush away at alarming speed. ».

The United Kingdom possesses numerous airbases capable of hosting and testing such aircraft. From 1992 to 1994, £100 million were spent on developing stealth technology in England. This included, for instance, the building of a Research & Development Complex in Warton in 1995. Researchers generally consider that the following two airbases are involved in stealth projects:

RAF MACRIHANISH - It is located at the top of the Kintyre peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, and was previously used by U.S. SEALS. In the 1980s, some F-117s were tested on that base. The alleged Aurora is said to use this base in Europe.

RAF WEST FREUGH - Also located on the west coast of Scotland, this could be host to the HALO aircraft.

Source of the article is disputable since it is a French website devoted to UFO sightings. Also the translation being done from the French (which itself relied heavily on initial English language material) I do not guarantee that the quotes included are word-for-word equivalents of the originals.

Source: http://quelquechosedansleciel.wordpress.com/plasma-springs/
(also in PDF form)

 

[flateric]

Just a thought: could this HALO be related to the one that was supposed to be a secret British stealth aircraft in the 1990s?

no way

 

[ozmosis]

Popular Mechanics - August 1986 - America's Orient Express

 

[ozmosis]

Popular Science - November 1991 - X-30: Out Of This World In A Scramjet

 

[ozmosis]

*Continued from above*

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Funny you should mention the HALO concept. I was just thinking about that the other day. I used to have the PM article on it waaaay back when. Don't know what happened to it. My folks tossed out a lot of stuff after I left for the service.

 

[ozmosis]

Funny you should mention the HALO concept. I was just thinking about that the other day. I used to have the PM article on it waaaay back when. Don't know what happened to it. My folks tossed out a lot of stuff after I left for the service.

Popular Mechanics - January 1993 - First Scramjet Could Piggyback On Blackbird

 

[DSE]

A McDAC incarnation, a bit chewed up

 

[DSE]

and a conical incarnation, uhmmm Gov't Baseline, cica 1980. Thanks to sferrin for jogging the addled brain matter.

 

[sferrin]

Oh yeah, add "X-30" to the list.

 

[flateric]

it's not 'conical', it's Government baseline derived vehicle, no?

 

[DSE]

it's not 'conical', it's Government baseline derived vehicle, no?

Been a long two weeks. I believe you are correct as this image is circa 1980. My bad.

 

[DSE]

Some photos of the later configuration and a few other vehicles.

 

[flateric]

what a wonderful weekend surprise here

 

[Stargazer]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

 

[sferrin]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

X-43B.

 

[Stargazer]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

X-43B.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of a "B" variant with forward canards.

 

[sferrin]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

X-43B.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of a "B" variant with forward canards.

There was suppose to be a "C" as well. Both cancelled of course.

 

[DSE]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

X-43B.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of a "B" variant with forward canards.

See the poster I posted in:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9729.msg120995.html#msg120995

ISTAR was the RBCC version of X-43B. There was a TBCC version as well.

 

[DSE]

Nice model pics. I had seen all these designs before of course, but the last one doesn't ring a bell... Any idea what it is?

X-43B.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of a "B" variant with forward canards.

There was suppose to be a "C" as well. Both cancelled of course.

You can thank Admiral Steidle and John Mankins and the spiral of spirals for that.

 

[sferrin]

3 B's and a C

 

[Tuomasn]

We also have a thread on X-43B.

 

[sferrin]

We also have a thread on X-43B.

Looks like I missed it the first time around or I'd have posted the high rez pics way back when. Mods feel free to move them.

 

[DSE]

3 B's and a C

Off the old NGLT website at MSFC? I believe remnants of that site still live on in a few pieces, at least within a few months ago when I came across it again.

 

[Stargazer]

Found two interesting pictures of X-30 designs among pictures of desktop models located at Pima Air & Space Museum:
http://www.freewebs.com/aeroscale/pima.htm

First picture is captioned as the "DoD X-30" (probably a generic design) while the second is labeled as the "Dupont X-30".
This makes me wonder if it's the same Dupont as in the infamous DP-2 project...

 

[Orionblamblam]

This makes me wonder if it's the same Dupont as in the infamous DP-2 project...

Yes. Same duPont designed a spaceplane with fantastically optimistic weight and performance assumptions, and essentially kicked off the NASP.

 

[LeLouvre]

Escape capsule for Boeing's 1988 horizontal-take-off and landing 'Hypervelocity Technology Vehicle'...mmm...familiar 'conical accelerator' shapes...

source
HYPERVELOCITY TECHNOLOGY (HVT) CREW ESCAPE
Lanny A. Jines, P.E.
Aerospace Engineer
Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories
Flight Dynamics Laboratory
Crew Escape and Subsystems Branch
Air Crew Escape Group
WPAFB, OH 45433

As a high school student in 1987, I had a summer internship working with this group at Wright-Patterson AFB. I helped with some computer projects in support of crew escape vehicle research for the National Aerospace Plane and Space Station Freedom.

I was given some artwork, most or all of which, IIRC, was already outdated when I got there. It depicts several crew escape concepts.

Hi-res scans of the lo-res prints are here: http://www.mediafire.com/?8d22rh55cho7c
(update: resized versions are in overscan's post below...thanks for that!)

I don't have any art for the space station; sorry.

 

[flateric]

Thank you very much! Very impressive arrival at the forum)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Images resized and posted...

 

[Triton]

Rockwell X-30 National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) model found on eBay.

URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockwell-X-30-Space-Plane-Contractor-Desk-Model-NASA-USAF-/120830441540?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c220e3844

 

[shockonlip]

Thanks for the heads-up Triton !!

I know the guy who bought this.

It is very cool, and in great shape !

He thanks you!

 

[flateric]

_many_ interesting NASP stuff inside - thanks to jjnodice for finding these
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a535843.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a535837.pdf

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUPONT-AEROSPACE-SPACE-PLANE-DISPLAY-MODEL-WITH-BOX-AND-STAND-/230756496598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ba28b4d6

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Stargazer]

Cool! So that would be their X-30 proposal, right?

With the DP-2 white elephant behind them and little else on the shelves, I really wonder how DuPont expected to be viewed as a serious player on that one...

 

[flateric]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtN7aVPGqSs

 

[flateric]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200746598426&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

 

[flateric]

Rockwell's X-30 model