Grey Havoc said:Were they trying to make use of a waverider effect for the second stage?
That's not a Bimese, since the booster is notably different from the orbiter. For an actual Bimese TSTO design see e.g. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20050212103/downloads/20050212103.pdf.Yeah, as if a Bimese TSTO wasn't difficult enough, plus crossfeed. Let's put it on a ship !
That's completely nonsensical - the fundamentally defining feature of any Bimese *IS* symmetry/identical design of booster and orbiter, see for example the characterization at https://selenianboondocks.com/2008/01/an-insane-but-interesting-idea-fleet-launched-orbital-craft/.Asymetrical bimese - I should have said.
the 1974 Albatros concept is wild
it use hydrofoil as propellant tank for First stage engines during acceleration.
once the that tanks is empty the two stage have takeoff speed at around 180 km/h.
the entere system would bring 30 metric tons in low orbit
it compete against Energia/Buran and lost...