- LAPCAT
LAPCAT (Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies) is a 36 month European FP6 project to examine ways to produce engines for a Mach 4-8
Hypersonic aircraft. The project is funded by the EUROPA general R&D fund rather than ESA. [ [http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/lapcat-aims-at-supersonic-civil-aviation/ "LAPCAT aims at supersonic civil aviation"] ] [ [http://ec.europa.eu/comm/space/news/article_3846_en.html Commission funds hypersonic flight project] ] [ [http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/projects/article_3666_en.html LAPCAT, Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies] ]tudies
One possible supersonic transport aircraft being researched as part of this project is the A2 by
Reaction Engines Limited . [ [http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/lapcat.html Reaction Engines Limited - LAPCAT devlopers] ] The researchers are looking at an aircraft capable of flying fromBrussels (Belgium) toSydney (Australia) in 2-4 hours, [ [http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/lapcat.html Reaction Engines Limited - Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies] ] significantly reducing journey times across the globe.To attain and maintain such high speeds, Reaction Engines Limited would need to develop its newly designed concept engine called the Scimitar, which exploits the thermodynamic properties of liquid hydrogen. [ [http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/lapcat_scim.html Reaction Engines Limited - Scimitar Engine] ] The engine is theoretically capable of powering the A2 to a sustained Mach 5 throughout flight with an effective exhaust velocity of 40,900 m/s (4170 s). [ [http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/lapcat.html Reaction Engines Limited - Configuration A2 Vehicle] ]
"Results so far show [the Mach 5 vehicle from Reaction Engines] can avoid later [technology] pitfalls and could travel from Brussels to Sydney," says ESA's LAPCAT project coordinator Johan Steelant. [Coppinger R. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/06/15/207225/eu-7m-hypersonic-research-plan-considers-uk-designed-mach-5-aircraft-to-fly-brussels-to-sydney-in.html "EU €7m hypersonic research plan considers UK-designed Mach 5 aircraft to fly Brussels to Sydney in 2h"] , "Flight International",
June 15 ,2006 .]The Register reports that further funding of the project to the tune of $4-$10 million by the EU seems likely. [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/24/hypersonic_hydrogen_rocket_airliner/]
ee also
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Precooled jet engine
*SABRE References
* [http://www.dglr.de/veranstaltungen/extern/aerodays2006/sessions/E_Sessions/E2/E21.pdf LAPCAT kickoff pdf slides by J.Steelant] , August 2006.
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