QSST = New York to LA in Two Hours

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

It’s hard to know if spiraling gas prices and terrorism will hurt or help the next generation of supersonic aircraft, but we do know that if there is a God, we’ll someday get to ride in a QSST. Short for Quiet SuperSonic Transport, the QSST aircraft is already preparing to make an entrance as tomorrow’s fleet of executive taxis, circa 2013.

The Q in QSST means that the jet can quietly reach supersonic speeds over the US without the sonic boom noise problem that kept the now defunct Concorde limited to flying over water. This Q-factor is also known as “low boom” technology and it is expected to change the sonic boom regulations drafted in the 1970’s.

According to its manufacturer Supersonic Aerospace International, “QSST was designed to meet, or exceed, all current and anticipated FAA aircraft certification sound and environmental standards. QSST’s sonic signature is less than 1/100th that of the Concorde - or a sound level between the interior of a car at 70 miles per hour and normal talking levels.”

About QSST From Supersonic Aerospace International

QSST is the only jet that incorporates patented breakthrough aerodynamic innovations to make it possible to fly supersonic over populated continental areas. QSST’s design is feasible and should receive timely certification approval from U.S. and international aviation authorities.

Lockheed Martin comprises the best aircraft design team in the world, with 50+ years of experience in aircraft design and production, specifically supersonic aircraft. SAI’s design is grounded in Lockheed Martin’s unquestioned abilities in systems engineering and institutional aviation design. QSST draws on the legendary history and unequaled record of accomplishment of Lockheed Martin’s ’Skunk Works’, Jetstar, one of the first business jets developed, was designed by ’Skunk Works’ and is still in use today. ’Skunk Works’ has also designed such legendary aircraft as the SR-71 “Blackbird,” and breakthrough aircraft as the F-117 Stealth Fighter, the F/A-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, the three leading international engine manufacturers, have proposed competing “state-of-the-art” engine design concepts that meet QSST performance, sound and emissions requirements. The engine design concepts will allow QSST to cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburning engines. All three engine companies promise high reliability and long core life even with the demands of sustained supersonic air flight.

QSST promises dramatic reductions in travel time that will enable businesses, entrepreneurs, medical personnel and government/military leadership a quantum leap in productivity that will allow leaders to position personnel and equipment rapidly around the world in order to respond to global opportunities and time-sensitive situations.

Competition:
Acccording to Wired magazine, the QSST is not the only game in town, and that’s a good gthing when it comes to driving down prices.

“QSST is not the only group scrambling to create a superfast executive commuter network. Rival Aerion, also of Nevada, is designing a slower 12-seat supersonic business jet, or SSBJ, that would reduce aerodynamic drag using straight, natural laminar flow wings. The SSBJ would produce a quieter, Mach-1.6 boom over water and fly at near-supersonic speeds over land. The wings will be tested at Albuquerque, New Mexico, this month. Both companies have identified a market for up to 300 jets in little over a decade, each craft costing around $80 million, and are looking for investors and development consortia.” Source: Wired

We Say: Sigh….anyone have an extra $80 mil?