supersonic transport (SST)

[bagera3005]

A supersonic transport (SST) is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The only SSTs to see regular service were Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978, and Concorde's last flight was on November 26, 2003. Following the permanent cessation of flying by all Concorde, there are no SSTs in commercial service.

Supersonic airliners' greater speed and efficiency over their conventional counterparts have made them objects of numerous recent and ongoing design studies. Drawbacks and design challenges are excessive noise generation (due to sonic booms), high development costs, expensive construction materials, great weight, and an increased cost per seat over subsonic airliners.

 

[egettt]

Nice!

 

[SAustin16]

Very nice collection of designs Bagera.

Too bad Al Paulson of Gulfstream couldn't get the Sukhoi/Gulfstream business jet funded and built in his lifetime. It looks like it would have flown very well with the multiple control surfaces.

 

[bagera3005]

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Very sharp and beautiful.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Hi! Very sharp and beautiful.

At least this program is still progressing, at least for the moment, despite Tōhoku and it's aftermath.

 

[SAustin16]

Today, after retirement of Concorde, the pilot slot for that aircraft would be an aviation dream job.

 

[bagera3005]

 

[unclejim]

When Concorde was retired, Air International had a nice graphic of a Pan Am Concorde in the last livery of the airline.

 

[James]

Well done Bagera. The Pan Am livery looks superb.

 

[bagera3005]