Hermeus Completes Quarterhorse Demonstrator Ground Tests
Hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus completed the ground testing of its Quarterhorse M1 demonstrator this week, paving the way toward first flight.
Conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the ground-test campaign was completed in 21 days, encompassing integrated testing of vehicle subsystems, along with the software and hardware in the flight deck of the remotely piloted vehicle. This included checks of the redundant RF lines to ensure protection against potential electromagnetic interference issues.
In addition, Hermeus said it tested the human-machine interface to optimize pilot control. The campaign culminated in 130-knot taxi tests with full afterburner on a dry lakebed at Edwards, Hermeus said, adding this helped validate aerodynamic model assumptions and control surface performance. With ground testing complete, Hermeus is working toward obtaining U.S. Air Force and FAA approvals for flight.