11-27-2024, 05:26 PM
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.
![[Image: 462576120_877935187744329_5558660433555916599_n.jpg]](https://denyignorance.com/uploader/images/462576120_877935187744329_5558660433555916599_n.jpg)
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.
Logic is dead. Long live BS.
