Post by Triton on Jan 18, 2012 21:46:13 GMT -8
SAI QUIET SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT BUSINESS JET
The Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) was a supersonic business jet that entered service early in the 21st century.
The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works began developing the QSST in May 2001 under a $25-million contract from SAI. The QSST was designed to cruise at an altitude of 60,000 feet at speeds of Mach 1.6 to 1.8 (approximately 1,218 to 1,370 statute miles per hour) with a range of 4,600 statute miles, the two-engine gull-wing aircraft was designed to create a sonic boom only 1% as strong as that generated by the Concorde. This result was achieved by increasing the ratio of length to wingspan, using canards, and ensuring that the individual pressure waves generated by each part of the aircraft structure reinforce each other less significantly, producing a light rumble on the ground without an objectionable sonic boom like previous supersonic aircraft.
The QSST was powered by two Pratt & Whitney engines capable of generating 33,000 pounds of thrust, comparable to the power of engines for midsize airliners of the era. The QSST achieved first flight in 2017, and begin customer deliveries by 2018. The price per aircraft was about $80 million in 2017 US dollars.
The Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) was a supersonic business jet that entered service early in the 21st century.
The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works began developing the QSST in May 2001 under a $25-million contract from SAI. The QSST was designed to cruise at an altitude of 60,000 feet at speeds of Mach 1.6 to 1.8 (approximately 1,218 to 1,370 statute miles per hour) with a range of 4,600 statute miles, the two-engine gull-wing aircraft was designed to create a sonic boom only 1% as strong as that generated by the Concorde. This result was achieved by increasing the ratio of length to wingspan, using canards, and ensuring that the individual pressure waves generated by each part of the aircraft structure reinforce each other less significantly, producing a light rumble on the ground without an objectionable sonic boom like previous supersonic aircraft.
The QSST was powered by two Pratt & Whitney engines capable of generating 33,000 pounds of thrust, comparable to the power of engines for midsize airliners of the era. The QSST achieved first flight in 2017, and begin customer deliveries by 2018. The price per aircraft was about $80 million in 2017 US dollars.