---
title: "US military says Waverider test flight ended early due to fin problem"
description: "A U.S. military test flight of the experimental hypersonic \"Waverider\" ended prematurely when the aircraft broke apart in the air over the Pacific Ocean due to a failure with its cruiser control fin, the U.S. Air Force said on Wednesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-08-16-us-military-says-waverider-test-flight-ended-early-due-to-fin-problem/"
published: "2012-08-16T01:03:44"
updated: "2013-02-01T20:17:52"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 146
---

# US military says Waverider test flight ended early due to fin problem

> A U.S. military test flight of the experimental hypersonic "Waverider"  ended prematurely when the aircraft broke apart in the air over the  Pacific Ocean due to a failure with its cruiser control fin, the U.S.  Air Force said on Wednesday.

By Reuters · Published 16 August 2012, 03:03 SAST · Updated 1 February 2013, 22:17 SAST

## Content

The problem with the fin was identified 16 seconds after a rocket booster on the unmanned X-51A aircraft was ignited to increase its speed, the Air Force said in a statement.

About 15 seconds later, when the X-51A separated from the rocket booster it lost control due to a "faulty control fin," the statement said.

The aircraft broke apart immediately and fell into the Pacific Ocean near Point Mugu northwest of Los Angeles, said Daryl Mayer, a spokesman for the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. **DM**

*Photo: An undated U.S. Air Force handout graphic depicts the X-51A Waverider in flight. The X-51A WaveRider, an unmanned aircraft that could reach speeds up to 3,600 mph (5,793 kph), will be launched from the wing of a B-52 on a test flight over the Pacific Ocean on August 14, 2012. REUTERS/US Air Force/Handout*