KerbalX

Type: SPH
Class: aircraft
Part Count: 38
Mods: 3
KSP: 1.12.5

The Aurora is a hypersonic drone aircraft powered by an X-43 Hyperblast Scramjet Engine and two JATO (Jet Assisted Take-Off) J-X4 Whiplash Turbo Ramjet Engines. The Aurora is designed to operate at an altitude of 37,000m at a cruise speed of 2,300m/s (Mach 6.7). Once at it’s operational altitude of 37,000m intermittent throttle of only 1% to 5% is required to maintain altitude and speed.

The X-43 and J-X4 engines are activated in unison upon startup, but the X-34 scramjet engine does not begin producing thrust until the aircraft reaches approximately 1,200m/s. If aircraft drops below 1,200m/s the X-43 engine will flame out.
It is recommend to climb at an agle of approximately 12deg immediately at takeoff with a target apoapsis of 26,000m. Any angle over 15deg and the aircraft may not gain enough speed to effectively light off X-43 engine and may have to pitch down to regain speed. Any less angle and the aircraft body will potentially overheat and/or aircraft will consume excessive fuel.
JATO nacelles are the primary source of fuel for both the X-43 and J-X4 engines until the JATO nacelles are jettisoned due to running out of fuel and/or X-43 engine is producing sufficient thrust.
JATO nacelles are jettisoned by pressing Key #1
Upon jettisoning JATO nacelles by pressing Key #1, the following actions automatically take place; Whiplash engines are powered OFF, Shock Cone Intakes CLOSED, and TT-38K Radial Decouplers decoupled.
To assist with throttle sensitivity, It’s recommended to reduce X-43 thrust output to 50% once steady cruise at 1,900m/s+ and altitude of 30,000+ is maintained.

FUEL CONSUMPTION @ 37,000m & 2,300m/s
1Min = 8 units
10Min = 80 units
30Min = 240 units

(Can complete one orbit of Kerbin in about 30 minutes, 8 times!)