Aircraft to fly 6X speed of sound...

[jimnyc]

Lockheed Martin revealed on Tuesday it is on the brink of a technological breakthrough that could lead to the US developing military aircraft that can fly six times the speed of sound.

Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed’s chief executive, outlined the proposed hypersonic aircraft as she also disclosed the company was working on a laser weapon that could be used on the battlefield.

At the company’s annual media day, Ms Hewson expressed optimism about future US military budgets following years of cutbacks.

She said that lawmakers seemed set to pass an increase in the budget for 2016-17.

However, her most eye-catching remarks were about innovation. She said a series of technological advances were on the verge of making possible weapons systems that had been mooted for years but never come to fruition.

A hypersonic aircraft would give US military planners a significant advantage in reaching targets before opponents had time to react.

However, military engineers have struggled for decades with so-called scramjet engine technology to power such an aircraft.

Fuel burns in a stream of air moving at supersonic speeds inside the engine, but there have been far reaching questions about the technology’s efficiency and stability.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/781f6c08-ead6-11e5-bb79-2303682345c8.html#axzz434IFVl8g

[NightTrain]

Love that kind of tech.

It was a huge step for the F-22's super cruise - allowing supersonic flight without that gas guzzling afterburner kicked in.

Mach 6 is really moving for a warplane... spyplanes are one thing, having a dogfighter carrying weapons is entirely another.

[Perianne]

Love that kind of tech.

It was a huge step for the F-22's super cruise - allowing supersonic flight without that gas guzzling afterburner kicked in.

Mach 6 is really moving for a warplane... spyplanes are one thing, having a dogfighter carrying weapons is entirely another.
NightTrain

What does "Check your six" mean?

[jimnyc]

@NightTrain (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=89)

What does "Check your six" mean?

Think of a clock. Picture 2 soldiers standing back to back with one another. Think "watch one another's back" I think?

[CSM]

Think of a clock. Picture 2 soldiers standing back to back with one another. Think "watch one another's back" I think?

Check your six means watch your back. If the way you are facing is 12, then your back is your six....

[jimnyc]

Check your six means watch your back. If the way you are facing is 12, then your back is your six....

Can you tell I've never been in the military? :( :laugh:

[NightTrain]

@NightTrain (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=89)

What does "Check your six" mean?

It's fighter pilot lingo for "look directly behind you". Think of a clock, 12 o'clock would be directly ahead, 3 would be 90° to your right, and 6 would be right behind.

In a dogfight, the kill position is at the target's vulnerable 6 o'clock position. A friendly pilot would yell over the radio "Check your six!", warning the other pilot that he was about to get shot full of holes from an enemy plane lining up behind for the kill.

These days, missiles make getting directly behind the enemy plane not as critical for the kill, but they still do it anyway as they struggle to gain the Six position, or something close to it as they turn in ever tightening circles.

In other words : Danger! You're about to get shot down.

[Gunny]

It's fighter pilot lingo for "look directly behind you". Think of a clock, 12 o'clock would be directly ahead, 3 would be 90° to your right, and 6 would be right behind.

In a dogfight, the kill position is at the target's vulnerable 6 o'clock position. A friendly pilot would yell over the radio "Check your six!", warning the other pilot that he was about to get shot full of holes from an enemy plane lining up behind for the kill.

These days, missiles make getting directly behind the enemy plane not as critical for the kill, but they still do it anyway as they struggle to gain the Six position, or something close to it as they turn in ever tightening circles.

In other words : Danger! You're about to get shot down.

That ain't just fighter pilot lingo, bubs. Might have originated with them .. not sure .. but checking your 6 means watch your ass. It's common lingo with grunts. What you have to add is "wingman". You go in for the kill, the wingman's job is to destroy anything after you. It's the leader's decision. He can let the wingman take the lead or not. Most won't. Fighter pilots are Gods gift to arrogant asses. But if the wingman has the shot, the leader will usually pull off and cover.

Same on the ground. You're walking point, your "wingman" better be on his game.

[NightTrain]

That ain't just fighter pilot lingo, bubs. Might have originated with them .. not sure .. but checking your 6 means watch your ass. It's common lingo with grunts. What you have to add is "wingman". You go in for the kill, the wingman's job is to destroy anything after you. It's the leader's decision. He can let the wingman take the lead or not. Most won't. Fighter pilots are Gods gift to arrogant asses. But if the wingman has the shot, the leader will usually pull off and cover.

Same on the ground. You're walking point, your "wingman" better be on his game.

Yeah, it's morphed to many other applicable meanings. If someone tells you to check your six as you're about to go talk to the boss, it's pretty plain what he's saying. "You're about to get your ass blown out of the sky" covers a lot of ground!