T. Bykerk , D. Verstraete , S. Wolf , V. Villace and J. Steelant
DOI Number XXX-YYY-ZZZ
Conference Number HiSST 2018_1620842
Hypersonic vehicle design usually focuses on the aerodynamic, structural and thermal challenges at high speed. However, applications involving a traditional horizontal take-off and landing require the vehicle to fly from low subsonic speeds up to the design hypersonic Mach number. In preparation for a low speed flight test program, a modified scaled model of the Hexafly-International Mach 7.4 waverider has been built and tested in the University of Sydney 7×5 Low Speed Wind Tunnel to evaluate its static stability and performance. CFD played a supporting role in flow visualisation which was otherwise not possible to achieve through tunnel tests alone. Results to date indicate that the vehicle is stable, trimmable and can cruise at a speed suitable for remote piloting. In addition, the required speed and angle of attack for take-off and landing are within acceptable limits, giving confidence in the feasibility of the proposed low speed flight test program.