Quarterhorse Mk 1 arrives at Edwards

[Zaphod58]

The Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 1, which is designed to demonstrate remote take off and landing capabilities has arrived at Edwards AFB for testing. The aircraft was seen on a flatbed trailer en route to the base last month, and Hermeus released a photo today of the assembled aircraft on the lake bed at Edwards. The plan is for the Mk 1 to test take off and landing for the airframe, and is powered by a J85 engine. The J85 is currently used in the T-38 and F-5, as well as various target drones and other platforms. The Mk 2 will be the high speed platform, and will be powered by an F100 engine.

The Mk 2 will look similar to a D-21 drone that was designed to be carried on the back of an M-21 (modified A-12) mothership, but that program failed when one of the drones came back down on the back of the mothership, and the launch control officer in the back cockpit died after successfully ejecting. He opened his helmet too soon after landing in the Pacific and drowned. It will have an inlet similar to early model fighters, with the entire nose section being the intake for the engine. It will be about the size of an F-16.  Once its testing is done, the Mk 3 will fly.  That will be the real gem of the program if all goes well. The plan for the Mk 3 is to demonstrate transition from a turbojet to a ramjet, and surpass the Mach 3 speed of the SR-71.  All variants will be unmanned. 

[sprocketuk]

Just looking at it I am reminded of the F-105 Starfighter.

[Zaphod58]

Just looking at it I am reminded of the F-105 Starfighter.

Quite a few people thought it was an F-104 when it was on the truck.

[Maxmars]

So presumably this fine young thing is not intended for aerial combat?  I mean, assuming they achieve the Mach 3 goal, you can't really "dog fight" at that speed, can you?

This is to be a drone of autonomous intelligence gathering?

[Zaphod58]

So presumably this fine young thing is not intended for aerial combat?  I mean, assuming they achieve the Mach 3 goal, you can't really "dog fight" at that speed, can you?

This is to be a drone of autonomous intelligence gathering?

Actually this is a lead in program. If all goes well with Quarterhorse, it will lead into Darkhorse, which will be a Mach 5+, reusable, multi mission vehicle.

[sprocketuk]

Quite a few people thought it was an F-104 when it was on the truck.

104   yes, all those thud videos I have been watching lately must have messed with my head :)