However, ICBMs were developed before the Navaho began production, so the idea was scrapped.  Limited ramjet engine research has continued since they do not require a heavy turbine and can achieve high speeds with their simple design.  Since they suck their own oxygen from the air, they are superior to rocket engines in the atmosphere.  The obvious problem is how to get the aircraft  near mach for the ramjet to ignite from the incoming compressed air.  The Navaho used a booster rocket which proved expensive.  Ramjets have been considered for spacecraft, but if a rocket booster is used, the ramjets do not ignite until 50,000 feet and can only burn a minute before the atmosphere becomes too thin to provide oxygen.

     The obvious solution is a Sky Ramp, which can propel a spacecraft to near mach for ramjet ignition.  The ramjets can then propel a spacecraft up to 100,000 feet and Mach 3-10 using oxygen from the atmosphere for combustion rather than hauling its own liquid oxygen.  NASA is testing a modern scramjet engine (ramjets which can fly over Mach 5 are called scramjets) the X-43A Hypersoar aircraft (under-wing a B-52 at right) with hopes of achieving a top speed of Mach 7-10. (click for more NASA X-43A). 

     A Sky Ramp inclined track system can launch much larger X-43 type scramjet aircraft at a far lower cost.  Rocket engines can provide the needed thrust, but a sled using jet turbine engines can also do the job.  The F119 gas turbine jet engine used by the US Air Force F-22 fighter produces 40,000lbs of thrust.  Since its two engines can propel that aircraft to Mach 2.5+, two or more engines mounted on a sled can quickly propel an X-43 to the required speed for scramjet ignition and launch from an inclined track.

     A rocket-powered sled can launch large ramjet powered spacecraft.  The ramjet engines could then efficiently accelerate the spacecraft to Mach 7 and 100,000 feet before it's rocket engines ignite.  Since ramjet engines have no moving parts, they are simple and inexpensive. Dr. John R. Olds at Georgia Tech's Space Systems Design Lab has made several such proposals, including the rail launched "Argus" (right).

     A sled will be essential to launch the proposed Blackswift hypersonic Global Range Recce/Strike Aircraft.  If rail launched, it could take off from the USA and deliver payload to any point on the globe from an altitude and at a speed that would challenge current defensive measures and return to the US without the need for refueling or forward bases on foreign soil.  Unmanned ramjet vehicles can be launched at high Gs from inexpensive short Sky Ramps built up smaller  mountains.  The Germans designed a similar ramp launched bomber during World War II, the "Sanger Amerika Bomber" (or Orbital Bomber, Antipodal Bomber or Atmosphere Skipper) which was designed for supersonic, stratospheric flight with rocket engines.  These exciting options are  other major advantages that Sky Ramps can provide.

©2008 Sky Ramp Technology