Is the x-43a a plane

Answer 1

Yes, the X-43A was an airplane. However it was unmanned as it was too small for a pilot. This remote controlled and computer controlled aircraft was built purely for the purpose of exploring the technical problems of sustained hypersonic flight (high speed supersonic flight above mach 5) with regard to heating and engine design. The X-43 was dropped from a modified B-52. After drop a rocket booster attached to the back of the X-43 ignited and propelled the X-43 to faster speeds and higher altitudes. The booster than dropped away, at which time an experimental 'ramjet' engine took over and propelled the X-43 even faster. Originally, it was intended that larger, more advanced versions of the X-43 would be built. These would have been the X-43B, X-43C, and X-43D. However, this project was suspended 2004.