The Langley Research Center maintained an active hypersonic research program from the early days of the formation of NASA in 1958. The goals of the Hypersonic Research Engine (HRE) project, which began in 1964, were to design, develop, and construct a ramjet/scramjet for flight test from Mach 4 to 8. The flight test goal was lost when the X-15 aircraft program was cancelled in 1968. Ground tests of full scale models then became the project focus with structural cooling tests in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Structures Tunnel, and internal thrust performance tests in the NASA Lewis Plum Brook Hypersonic Test Facility (HTF).

Tests were conducted in the HTF at Mach 5, 6, and 7 with this gaseous hydrogen fueled, water-cooled, boiler-plate Aerothermo-dynamic Integration Model. Parameters investigated included fuel/air ratio, angle of attack, and various simulated altitudes and inlet contraction ratios. Good ramjet/scramjet engine performance was obtained over the tested Mach number range.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date Circa 1964 Type PROPULSION-Turbines (Jet) Designer NASA - Langley Research Center
 Physical Description Type: Scramjet Performance: Between Mach numbers of M= 5 to 7, measured specific impulse varied from about 2,600 to 2,000 seconds Dimensions Approximate: 175.26 x 251.46 x 147.32cm (5ft 9in. x 8ft 3in. x 4ft 10in.)
3-D: 2 m 50.2cm × 1 m 44.8cm × 1 m 70.2cm, 1610.3kg (8 ft. 2.5 in. × 4 ft. 9 in. × 5 ft. 7 in., 3550lb.)
 Materials Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel
 Inventory Number A20061141000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA, Langley Research Center. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.