Quote:
Originally Posted by tikilal
It was not the size that made me think it would be unlikely but the speed. This prototype was designed to fly at 2000kph right? The engine is going to perform differently at 2000kph vs 500kph. I suppose that if they did not turn it all the way up and just wanted to see it fly then that serves a purpose but shot of that what was gained?
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I think you are making the assumption that these ramjet tests were exclusively to test an engine for the P13.
(BTW, right click on the missing pictures and select open in new window or tab to see them)
The tests were to develop operating ramjets and learn about them.
Remember that ramjets do not require supersonic speed to start. A myth that others have fallen for in this thread.
These engines and any aircraft they might later be mounted in would have to be started at a few hundred kilometres an hour and then be able to accelerate the aircraft to whatever its eventual top speed is. So worrying about how the engine operates at 2000+km an hour is a little premature.
It has to be able to get there first from lower speeds and obviously this would be the focus of development.