About that X-43 being the 'first' air-breather to reach Mach-10.
I don't think so!
Maybe it was the 'first' civilian flying machine
using the atmosphere for its oxygen supply
to reach Mach-10.
Maybe it was the 'first' publicized air-consuming flying craft
to reach Mach-10.
But as for what air-breathing flying machine was first to reach Mach-10? I'll spell it out for you.
A - U - R - O -R -A.
Jacob
"This planet has a 100 percent mortality rate."