Abstract: Efforts to develop technologies and systems enabling hypersonic flight have been ongoing since the late 1940’s. During this time substantial advancements have been made in hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems, high-temperature structural materials and thermal protection systems, and advanced vehicle design methods and tools. Taken together, these advancing technologies are moving mankind ever closer to achieving routine hypersonic flight, which will enable dramatically faster military missions and global transportation, and substantially more affordable space transportation.
This presentation will describe the key technical drivers, critical technologies and unique challenges of designing and developing vehicles to fly at hypersonic speed. Also described will be a vision for the future of hypersonic flight and what Boeing has done to turn that vision into reality.
X-51A Scramjet Waverider Demo Vehicle
Bio: Dr. Kevin G. Bowcutt is a Principal Senior Technical Fellow & Chief Scientist of Hypersonics for Boeing with 42 years of experience. He is an AIAA Fellow, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In 2021 he was selected by Texas A&M to be a Fellow of the Hagler Institute of Advanced Study. He holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. Dr. Bowcutt is an internationally recognized expert in hypersonic aerodynamics, propulsion integration, and vehicle design and optimization. Notable accomplishments include developing the viscous-optimized hypersonic waverider, flight testing scramjets by launching them from a light gas gun, supporting NASA’s X-43A scramjet flight test program, originating and optimizing the design of the X-51A scramjet demo vehicle, supporting the Space Shuttle Columbia accident investigation by simulating wing aero-thermal-structural failure, leading Boeing’s contributions to the HIFiRE international hypersonic flight experiment program, and leading Boeing’s reusable hypersonic airplane design investigation. Dr. Bowcutt has taught a capstone course on hypersonic vehicle design at several universities. Dr. Bowcutt leads Boeing’s advanced design and technology development efforts for hypersonic missiles, airplanes and space-planes.
Host: Kevin Hemker
Reception to follow, Clipper Room @ Shriver Hall
Please note this event will not be livestreamed