The QSST, A Concorde For The Next Generation

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 30th 2006 at 9:06AM

The Concorde may be gone but supersonic flight is far from forgotten. Lockheed's Skunk Works is hard at work on the QSST (Quiet Supersonic Travel). The jet is designed to travel from New York to Los Angeles in two hours. The jet travels at speeds up to Mach 1.8. The unique design curbs the sonic boom making it friendly for U.S. skies. The QSST will sell for an astounding $80 million and could be ready as soon as 2013.

[via Aero-News Network]

Tags: concorde, flight, planes, sonic, super sonic

Filed under: Wings

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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)

Kelly Sep 4th 2006 6:38PM

Gee, I wonder how long it'll take the terrorists to target one of THESE???

Christine at Trio Testing Sep 4th 2006 6:42PM

Great! The faster the better. We need more of these aircrafts. Sign me up.

Tillman Moore Sep 4th 2006 6:58PM

Hal,(#2)if there's going to be "sin"(sic)particularly with "maidens" on a "voyage" Please add my name to the list immediately
[That's a funny typo---]

Patrick Sep 4th 2006 6:57PM

I figure a publicly traded company has the right to attempt to develop new products that they deem potentially profitable. Since they are not responsible for airport management I doubt they are really concerned with how long it takes you to get through a line OR if the average member of the general public will be able to affort a ticket to ride on the plane when it is ready to go. That concern will be the responsibility of the airlines who end up buying the planes, set the routes, and set the fares to climb aboard.

Oh and as far as our tax dollars being used on this, I am sure they are, because the U.S. Government is a customer of Lockheed, but so are numerous other governments the world over. So the profit the company makes off of the sale of their products to ALL of these customers is likely funnelled into the development of this and other products they want to develop. Last I checked, a company has the right to spend their profits how they see fit and that their stock holders approve of, except of course for that portion which they pay in taxes to the U.S. Government.

Tim Orris Sep 4th 2006 7:00PM

When I used to have to fly as part of my sales job, upper managment would go to the same conference as I did, I took the "red eye" and slept, Checked into cheap hotel showered and shaved. They left the next morning and took Concord, spent hours before and after flight at airport vip lounge, stayed Sheridan, Hyatt, ect. They spent several times what I sent on same trip, I came back with sales, they came back with hangovers. The time they save they waste ussually at a bar or golfing.
For 99% of business travelers this is just another fantazy for bored board room elite.

peggy Sep 4th 2006 7:23PM

It will never make a profit. Too many working class people compared to rich. The rich have the money, the working class (whom make the plane and do the work at poor wages) while the rich just keep getting richer at the expense of the working class.

anza Sep 4th 2006 8:11PM

JP Marat, David Olin, Randy--pragmatism to the point! Or--Lockheed--create a craft that lifts off a pad straight up and hovers down. No airports required. Now that could validate 80 mil.

Marie Dooley Sep 4th 2006 7:23PM

Though I do think the world needs to slow down, I'd rather get to my destination and sit in my hotel room contemplating my navel and resting my body than sitting on a cramped, bad-aired, crabby stewardess infested plane for four hours. HOW you use the time is important!

MARY ANNE Sep 4th 2006 7:20PM

THIS WILL ONLY BE UTILIZED BY THE RICH AND FAMOUS.ISN'T
THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE CONCORDE QUIT FLYING?
THE GENERAL PUBLIC CANNOT AFFORD TO USE THIS TRANSPORTATION. HOW LONG CAN DONALD TRUMP AND HIS FRIENDS KEEP UP THIS AIRCRAFT?

Don't dance no more no big black woman Sep 4th 2006 7:34PM

#7...Your head will arrive in LA on time but your rear end will still be in New York.

Lew Sep 4th 2006 9:41PM

Great idea except that it will probably run $8,000 - $10,000 per flight. Remember the absurd cost of the Concord at $6,000 to London. I fly to Long Beach from JFK 5-6x per year. The total 7 hour savings in time will cost at least $2,000 an hour. A little expensive for my taste. Whatever happened to video conferencing?

Dr F./ Practical Surgery Centers Sep 4th 2006 7:41PM

I ALREADY HAVE MYSELF SIGNED UP TO PURCHASE ONE! I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!

Jim M. Sep 6th 2006 1:09AM

Is anyone old enough to remember the major reason people opposed the Concorde when it was in development? It was the negative environmental impact of the plane's exhaust at high altitude. Has anyone taken a look at this issue with a new aircraft before we all go running to sign up for the first flight? Travel faster. Pollute. Die younger. Oh, I forgot, it's always the other guy who dies . . . .

Steve R Sep 6th 2006 9:52PM

How much gas will this bird use in that 2 hour flight? Lets look at the pros and cons. Pro: We get to where we wana go a lot faster (even though we seem to be doing fine rite now) Cons: mad expensive and i thoght we didnt want to be relying on the mid east for oil for the rest of our lives. We NEED to stop relying on the mid east who controll america. We DONT NEED faster air travel

The idiot spotter Sep 4th 2006 8:01PM

To poster Barbara. It's not all about being in a hurry to do everything beacause of the pace of the world. For people like myself and I'm sure there are millions of others who suffer from severe panic attacks but must make trips to Europe this type of travel is a God send.
Please think before you write. You really have no idea about the level of fear and discomfort flying for 6-8 hours can do to a person who can't handle it well.If this cuts the time dramatically then it is worth every penny. It sure as hell beats the transatlantic cruises back and forth at $12,000 a trip!!

dennis Sep 4th 2006 8:02PM

Lets face it, Oprah will get one to park in Santa Barabara next to her other jets.Maybe she will do a show on jet decoration, buying all the articles at Costco, Walmart, or Sams Club.Now that great television!

Rich Arnold Sep 6th 2006 2:51AM

I would think all the nay-sayers are akin to those who scoffed when the original Concorde began flights accross the Atlantic. If you say this is unnecessary, why not get rid of first-class seat on ALL planes, then?

I say if you have bucks to spend on a nice ride, go for it. So what if the airport walk is still 2 hours. You're still saving 5 hours of your day on the whole trip. Flying from L.A. to Tokyo take 18 hours -- if I could ride this baby and be there in only 4 -- heck yeah!!!!

BTW - You taxes paid for roads you have never driven on, reservoirs you have never fished in, and atomic weapons that have never been used. I'm sure every pencil you bought at Wal-Mart didn't get used, either.

Bottom line -- Why did Lindbergh have to go and fly across the Atlantic? Ships could get you there plenty fine. Answer THAT question and then join the rest of us who welcome this new sensation!!

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