Samantha O’Flaherty, Test Engineer for Jacobs Technology Inc., finalizes the set-up of the Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) Preliminary Design Model inside the 14- by- 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. Over the next several weeks, engineers will conduct aerodynamic tests on the 15% scale model and the data collected from the wind tunnel test will be used to predict how the vehicle will perform and fly in low-speed flight.
The QueSST Preliminary Design is the initial design stage of NASA’s planned Low-Boom Flight Demonstration experimental airplane, otherwise known as an X-plane. This future X-plane is one of a series of X-planes envisioned in NASA’s New Aviation Horizons initiative, which aims to reduce fuel use, emissions and noise through innovations in aircraft design that depart from the conventional tube-and-wing aircraft shape.
Image Credit: NASA/Chris Giersch
NASA: X-plane Preliminary Design Model Tests Quiet Supersonic Technology
Zen Yogi: this screams for a pep talk on Feminism, mate.
It does, Yogi, since I'm seeing a comely young lass, clearly Millennial, who works with a high level of technical expertise and uses it to delve into the fringes of experimental technology. She appears one powerhouse woman who does well in her chosen field. It had to have been chosen since no-one just blithely wanders into Engineering.
I have nothing to say regarding her compensation since I don't know but I've not heard of complaints of that nature against NASA and they employ a great many spectacularly-talented women. Neither am I contesting complaints in Silicon Valley regarding discrimination but it seemed most of that was focused on biased venture capitalists who finance a great deal of the growth there.
Zen Yogi: will you wave your freak flag high for equal rights at any time of the day or night?
Sure I will, Yogi, but just now we want the focus on Ms O'Flaherty since she represents splendidly for women, NASA, and one supremely twisted test aircraft. Think of these Low-Boom flights since they will allow much greater speeds for commercial aircraft but without the kind of sonic boom which so delightfully breaks the windows of houses and buildings.
Everyone wants more speed even if, in the Rockhouse opinion, flying is a bloody awful way to travel and it's only better than a Wild West wagon train because they're not subject to Indian attacks.
Zen Yogi: you want to take the "A" train?
Sure I do, Yogi, since I'll be kicked back in my cushy seat while I eat an excellent meal and enjoy a prime view of the world while traveling across it. In the Rockhouse view, that's some gourmet travel if you have the time for it.
But y'all want the speed and Ms O'Flaherty, today's Representative Millennial, is bringing it to you.
If you're interested in continuing with high-speed trains, there's some kerfuffle in Europe regarding the merger of TGV, France's flagship maker of high-speed trains, with Siemens, a hugely-powerful German conglomerate. (Phys.org: Worry for iconic French trains under German merger)
France was a pioneer in high-speed rail travel
We're not interested in stories of corporate gloom and doom but we know you have that hunger for speed, especially when there's no particular risk in doing it. Cadillac Man spoke recently of his experience with traveling from London to Paris in just such a train. He was filled with the praises since he found it was cheaper than flying, faster, and more comfortable.
There's no intention here to critique the difficulties in building high-speed train tracks over shorter or longer distances since the primary focus is this worked surprisingly well for Cadillac Man and he was diggin' it for multiple reasons.
Zen Yogi: that's anecdotal evidence
Sure it is, Yogi, but it's factual so the interested student may wish to, if possible, do some traveling on them to make up his or her mind on the matter.
The interested student may also wish to pursue the source article for arguments on whether this is a clever business deal but it's not much related to the technology or the feature aspects of such trains. The goal of the merger is for an Airbus corporation for trains and it will represent for all of Europe for the world. That sounds compelling even when it involves a corporate conglomeration and the link is there for your consideration.
Zen Yogi: I know you get a bang out of the way you're pushed back into your seat at take-off in an aircraft, right?
I do, mate, and that immense feeling of power as it climbs out and builds altitude is exhilirating. I've known that since I was just a kid and just imagine how Ms O'Flaherty's X-Plane will put you back in your seat while it climbs out. That has got to be a tingle.
Zen Yogi: but you would still rather take the "A" train?
Oh, sure. They probably won't let you smoke cigars like the ritzy travelers of the past but it's still stylin' in a big way.
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