An experimental investigation of the behavior of laser-induced plasma (LIP) ignition for scramjet inlet injection is presented. The presented results demonstrate for the first time, that LIP can be used to promote the formation of hydroxyl in a hypersonic flow. The temporal evolution of the LIP-ignited region is monitored using the planar laser-induced fluorescence technique on the hydroxyl radical. This study is the first laser spark study in a hypersonic flow, shown to generate combustion products where they would not otherwise occur. (C) 2012 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.