10 Most Famous X-Planes

Aviation industry has grown rapidly in the past couple of decades. Some experiments turned into huge leaps of innovation in aviation industry. Providing such assistances X-planeprojects were one such example. These X-planes are series of experimental United States airplanes, helicopters and rockets used for the testing and evaluation of new technologies and aerodynamic concepts in aviation industry. Most of these X-planes have been operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), often in conjunction with the United States Air Force.

So here we have compiled a list of some of the most famous X-planes ever built which opened new paths in the aeronautics. This list wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of Astroaviator.

BELL X-1

Bell X-1 was the first X plane built and was the greatest project ever done to reveal and analyze the sound barrier. Charles Elwood was the first person to break the sound barrier in his Bell X-1 aircraft on October 14, 1947.

NORTH AMERICAN X-15

X-15′s primary function was to fly at hyper sonic speed and fly high above the Earth’s atmosphere. It was designed to study the effects of high speeds and altitudes on an astronaut. It currently holds the official world record for the fastest speed ever reached by a manned rocket powered aircraft.

ROCKWELL X-31

X-31 is a U.S-German research project designed to test fighter thrust vectoring technology. Thrust vectoring is technology which enables the aircraft to change its direction using the exhaust thrust thus increasing aircraft maneuverability.

GRUMMAN X-29

X-29 was built by Grumman and was used to test forward-swept wing, canard controlsurfaces, and other novel aircraft technologies. Due to intense aerodynamic instability, fly-by-wire was equipped in the aircraft to carry out the experiments.

BOEING X-37

X-37 belongs to Boeing Cooperation and was designed to be an orbital spacecraft. X-37 is bases on the space shuttle principle and is being experimented by U.S.A.F as an unmanned aircraft. X-37 is a drone spacecraft and is equipped with autonomous flight controls which enable the aircraft to make decisions on its own.

DOUGLAS X-3 STILETTO

X-3 aircraft was built by Douglas for US Air Force in order to carry out experimental flights with a slender fuselage and a long tapered nose. The first flight of X-3 took place on 15th October 1952 and was piloted by Douglas test pilot William Bridgeman.

BELL X-5

Designed and built by Bell Aircraft, X-5 was the first aircraft capable of changing the sweep of its wings in flight. X-5 did its first flight on 20th June 1951 and retired in 1955 after 200 flights.

CONVAIR XF-92

XF-92 was built by Convair and was the first aircraft with delta wings. The delta wing’s thin airfoil cross section, low weight and structural strength made this a good combination for a supersonic airplane.

LOCKHEED MARTIN X-35

The X-35 was an experimental aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. The F-35A is the smallest, lightest version, and is intended primarily to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

BOEING X-45

The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing’s Phantom Works.

10 Famous Space and Aviation Innovations Of 2010

As the year 2010 is about to finish, it has brought many innovations and technologies which will change the shape of the future. These innovations are dawn of a new era of autonomous power where technologies will run our daily life thus making are work more efficient and will reduce the time of discoveries. 2010 has turned out to be one such year, when people from around the world have achieved their groundbreaking innovative milestones.

So here I have compiled a list of ten most famous space and aviation innovations of 2010 which will surely widen the scope of aviation and space exploration.

Solar Impulse HB-SIA

Powered by solar batteries, Solar Impulse HB-SIA in July made a successful flight lasting more then 26 hours. The aircraft reached a height of 28,500 feet and flew over night after collecting solar energy at day light.

ESA CRYO-SAT 2

The function of Cryo-Sat 2 satellite is to study the unprecedented data about the polar ice caps and also to track the thickness of the ice caps in the polar regions of Earth. The satellite has interferometric radar range-finder and twin antennas which will study the ice burgs floating in the sea.

Masten Space Systems Xombie

Masten Space Systems is an aerospace startup company that has successfully developed a line of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) spacecraft initially for unmanned research flights.

Airbus Military A400M

The Airbus A400M is a multi-national four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities.

Atacama Large Millimeter Array

Atacama Large Millimeter Array is the most powerful radio-telescope array on the planet. It will allow the scientists to observe the gravitational collapse that initiates the birth of stars and the red-shifted radiation emitted 10 billion years ago from the far reaches of the universe.

Spacex Falcon-9

As the shuttles are near retirement, NASA is planning for back up options to send man into space to continue space exploration and maintain crew cycle in the International Space Station (ISS). Space X Falcon-9 rocket will be used to send astronauts into orbit in the Dragon capsule.

Eads Astrium Tandem-X Satellite

TanDEM-X an Earth observation satellite, which, together with the almost identical TerraSAR-X radar satellite, will form a high-precision radar interferometer system. The satellite formation can generate images similar to stereoscopic pictures. It will be possible to measure all the Earth’s land surface a period of less than three years.

Boeing X-37

X-37 was built by Boeing’s Phantom Works Division and looks just like a space shuttle i.e. having two wings and twin ‘V’ shape vertical stabilizers with a payload back of a size of small truck payload bay and also have black thermal tiles on the belly of the craft. It’s a highly classified project which nobody knows about the function or mission except for the official authorities.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne/Boeing X-51A Waverider

The Boeing X-51 is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic (Mach 6) flight testing. It successfully completed its first free-flight on 26 May 2010 and also achieved the longest duration flight at speeds over Mach and makes it a fastest engine ever built.

Boeing A160 Hummingbird

The Boeing A160 Hummingbird is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter. Its design incorporates many new technologies never before used in helicopters, allowing for greater endurance and altitude than any helicopter currently in operation.

10 Most Weird Cars Ever

So we were browsing through the web, looking for wacko vehicle designs and surprisingly enough, found countless pictures of slightly absurd to downright crazy cars.

Following is a compilation of the wackiest of the lot. Would you want to be seen riding in any of the following?

Stiletto

Looks like someone’s a big Devil Wears Prada fan.

Dragon Car

10 Fastest Motorbikes of the World

From 1999 to 2000, with one speed demon after another hitting the streets, motorbike manufacturers began to realize that the inter-manufacturer speed war had begun to get out of hand. In 2001, European and Japanese manufacturers agreed upon electronically limiting the top-speed of their motorbikes to 186 mph. Although there are manufacturers that aren’t bound by said agreement, most production motorbikes nowadays have top-speeds equal to or under mentioned limit.

Following is a list of the ten fastest motorbikes of the world in no particular order. Bikes with only the most consistent reported top speeds have been included.

Dodge Tomahawk

Sporting a 10-cylinder Viper engine (V10 engine) that packs 500 horsepower, this four-wheel concept bike can allegedly hit speeds of over 300 mph.

MTT Streefighter

Marine Turbine Technologies’ Streetfighter jet-bike is powered by a 420 horsepower gas-turbine engine and according to bikez.com, the speed demon has a top speed of 250 mph. MTT’s jet-bikes do not have their top speeds electronically limited to 186 mph.

MTT Turbine Superbike (Y2K Superbike)

MTT’s Y2k Turbine Superbike was introduced in 2000 as the second turbine-powered street-legal motorbike. The jet-bike has a Rolls-Royce 250-C20 turboshaft gas-turbine engine of 320 horsepower and a top speed of 230 mph.

Suzuki Hayabusa

When introduced in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa was the world’s fastest production motorbike with a top speed of 188 mph . The current model of the sport bike has a 1349 cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder DOHC engine that can deliver 197 horsepower. Certain stats indicate that with a hack that fools the currently installed 186 mph speed limiting governor, the bike can hit speeds in excess of 200 mph!

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14

Kawasaki’s 2006 successor of the popular Ninja ZX series comes equipped with a 1352 cc, 4-stroke, 4 -cylinder DOHC engine packing 190 horsepower and has an electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph but with the limiter out of the way, speeds in excess of 190 mph have been recorded.

BMW S1000RR

BMW Motorrad’s S1000RR was first seen at the 2009 Superbike World Championship after which it went into production with a 999 cc, 4-stroke, inline-four DOHC engine that, as claimed by the manufacturer, produces more than 190 horsepower. The bike has an electronically-limited top-speed of 186 mph.

MV Agusta F4 CC

The 2010 installment of the MV Agusta F4 series has a 1078 cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and an estimated top-speed of over 190 mph.

Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

In production from 1996-2007, the Super Blackbird came equipped with a 1137 cc, 4-stroke, inline four DOHC engine with 150 horsepower. Before 2001’s self-imposed top speed limit of 186 mph, the Blackbird models recorded top speeds of 172-180 mph.

Yamaha YZF R1

The Yamaha YZF R1 models have recorded top-speeds of around 170 mph. The current model sports a 998 cc, 4-cylinder DOHC engine with a new “crossplane” style crankshaft and 179.6 horsepower.

Aprilia RSV 1000 R

Aspirilia’s super-bike can hit speeds of up to 168 mph courtesy of a 998 cc, 4-stroke V-2 engine with 141.13 horsepower.

Most Expensive Cars In The World Today

‘Money is power’, the principle holds true to the world of cars. More dough, sweeter wheels. So if you’re a billionaire, and you’re looking for a ride, then you’ve come to the right place. Because what we have right here, are the 10 most expensive cars in the world today.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sports-$2.40 million

The Veyron is more than just a car, its a milestone in automotive history. It defines the boundary between the possible and the impossible. It is to cars what Concorde is to airplanes. It shows how speed, power and comfort can be infused into one awe-inspiring machine. It is all about pushing the boundaries. And with this ‘Super Sports’ version, its all about pushing the boundaries, and a little more.

Lamborghini Reventon-$1.60 million

This is the type of car that Bruce Wayne would drive. You can buy faster, more powerful cars for less, but this would crush them all if you’re looking to impress. This car has got style, with its creasy outlandish body which looks as if it were inspired by the Batmobile.

Koenigsegg Agera R-$1.60 million

Are you a nerd with a large Tron poster in your room? If yes, then here’s a car for you. Apparently Koenigsegg claim that, for reasons only a Ph.D in Automotive Engineering can understand, this car’ll do 275mph while running on biofuel. If what they claim is true, then we’re about to witness a revolution in the automotive industry. Considering its price tag, its alleged speed limit and its eco-friendliness, this car should be able to blast the faces off the much more expensive, comparatively slower, gas guzzling Bugattis and Paganis. That’s if the manufacturer’s claims are true of course.

Ferrari Enzo-$0.67 million

Buying a Ferrari Enzo is like joining a gentlemen’s club. You have to be chosen by Ferrari to be able to have this car, and then you have pay for it. Its utter ludicrousy. And for what? The car’s not very good-looking, nor is it that very fast and it costs a preposterously large amount of money. So unless you want to waste your money on a car that’ll impress some random guy with braces, then please, go ahead.

Pagani Zonda C12 F-$0.66 million

The C12 F is of course an older variant of the Pagani Zonda Clinque Roadster discussed above. Only difference being that this is a convertible, which sort of affects the speed and handling and what not for reasons beyond my comprehension.

SSC Ultimate Aero-$0.65 million

What the Ultimate Aero is, is a wannabe. Its the yanks’ attempt to make an exotic, but clearly, they’ve failed. Of course they’re going to boast about how this is the 2nd fastest car out there, and they’d be true. But I’d rather watch a live monkey birth than to look at this ugly duckling. I mean if that’s the best Shelby can come up with then they should definitely consider closing shop and swallowing arsenic pills. Bottom line, buying this car’ll make you look like a person who’d buy a fake Armani just to impress his friends. Not cool, mate.

Ascari A10-$0.65 million

Its rare, its expensive, its great on the track and it looks utterly beautiful. The A10 then, is a stallion. A stallion that’d be bought by a true petrohead, a person with a genuine interest in cars.

Saleen S7 Twin Turbo-$0.55 million

The S7 has 750 horsepowers, does 248mph and looks good too. Its a good car then, but you can buy better for less.

10 Most Famous Space Missions

Mission to space has tested the mettle of human capabilities and has proven to be one daunting task. Man’s eager desire of exploration and urge of answering  ”Are we Alone ” has lead to some of the most extraordinary missions into space.

Here we have compiled a list of the 10 most famous space missions ever flown which have led to some unimaginable discoveries.

Yuri Gagarin

The very first triumph of space sciences came when Vostok-1 explored the unknowns of space on 12^th April 1961. Yuri Gagarin’s 2 hours flight into space opened new horizons in development of space research.

Neil Armstrong

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, the most famous words of the 20^thcentury when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon .20^thJuly 1969, was considered to be the cornerstone of developmental progression in this field.

ISS Launch

The restlessness caused by the ambition and strong thoughts of the scientists lead them towork on ISS in 1998.In its microgravity environment in scientists conduct experiments in various fields of life. The ISS has been continuously staffed since 2 November 2000.

Apollo 13

The Apollo 13 mission was launched on April 11, 1970 from Kennedy Space Center. This mission was planned as a precision lunar. After about 56 hours of flight due to fault in oxygen and generator module mission was aborted and only few scientific investigations were carried out.

First STS Mission

STS-1 was the first space shuttle program launched on April 12, 1981. It traveled 1.074 million miles and orbited the Earth 37 times during its mission.

Challenger Crash

There have been a number of significant accidents in the history but the incident on January 28, 1986 of challenger space shuttle shatter the axis of NASA. Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all 7 crew members.

Columbia Crash

The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA’s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch, 16 days earlier. All 7 crew members died.

Last Discovery Mission

Space Shuttle Discovery’s last mission into space was to deliver Pressurized Multipurpose Module (PMM) Leonardo and the ELC-4 to the International Space Station.

Hubble mission

Nothing has explored our universe better than hubble telescope. After the launch of hubble in 1990, its has provided astrophysics with enormous details of our universe and has even helped them to calculate by which rate our universe is expanding.

Last STS (Atlantis) Mission

For the last time, the US Space Shuttle has approached the International Space Station (ISS). Following a dramatic launch from Cape Canaveral last week that was witnessed by an estimated one million people.

Boldt Boat Station

On the opposite side from Hart Island and Boldt castle there is a house for yachts located on Wellesley Island, built by Boldt in 1899, one year before the start of the castle construction. This construction is included into the American National Register of historic places and protected by law as an architectural heritage.