Images: Mini-jet designer thinks supersonic | CNET News.com — Wow, this would be riding in style.
Supersonic Aerospace International has designs for the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST), a business plane that could travel at supersonic speed with a minimal sonic boom. The Lockheed Martin “Skunk Works” design would allow planes to fly between Mach 1.6 and Mach 1.8 (almost 1,200 miles per hour) over populated land areas–twice the speed of current airlines. A flight from New York to Los Angeles could take as little as 2 hours and 15 minutes, the company says.
The first test flight is expected in 2011 and the first commercial flights are slated for 2013.
Man, and this just after Larry and Sergey made up their minds about the bedroom-situation.
The engines are on the wrong side of the wing
I would love to see one with a FULL Poly Clear front end.
I don’t understand the tail configuration, apparently it helps with the sonic boom. The canard makes sense though.
The engines are on the wrong side of the wing? I don’t understand that one.
As a commercial venture the plane will have to cost at least $25 million. It reminds me of the Beech Starship which failed so miserably that Raytheon (Beeches owner) bought them all back. As an experiment, I’m sure much will be learned for future SST planes.
Compare the similarities in shape to the Beech Starship
http://tinyurl.com/6hcst
The Concorde’s top spped was Mach 2.04 and that goes back to the ’76. Sure, I would love to get back to that but 2011?
AIR FOIL: Air is presureized under the wing and decompressed on top of it. That provides lift.
ENGINE: Sucks air in creating a low presure zone in front of it.
PICTURED: Engine sucks the lift. Only way it’d fly is like a rocket, not a plane.
FIX?: Put the engines above the wing, or towards the front of it. But if you like flying a rocket, then it ain’t busted.
Yes.
You could also put the engine a bit forward too, as in commercial airliners, but there’s added benefit of above wing mount: noise. Concorde couldn’t fly or land in certain airports too near residential areas. The noise was frightful (I should know, it landed in my city some years ago, and it was an impossible roar…)
The sorry story of the Beech Starship is outlined here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Starship
Maybe Revell ought to bid on the likeness permissions for this one.
I am sure every Fortune 500 CEO is rushing to place an order (with company funds, of course).
Unfortunately, this will have zero affect on the rest of the unwashed masses that make up the general flying public. Don’t expect a new SST anytime soon. The rising cost of fuel makes that a near impossiblity.
I wonder if the environmentalists will protest this one like the did the SST in the 70’s. I doubt it since it only affects corporate jet passengers that can afford to buy lobbyists.
There is definitely a demand for this from corporations. Some of the most successful private jet programs today are using the Citation X which holds the title of the fastest business jet.