Supersonic Still on Gulfstream’s Radar
Company has small research and development project that’s focused on suppressing the sonic boom.
Gulfstream Aerospace still has supersonic aircraft on its radar, but it is focusing on a “small” research and development program to suppress the sonic boom. In fact, the company’s Quiet Spike, intended to do just that, has previously been tested on an F-15B testbed at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. (Photo: NASA)
Gulfstream Aerospace still has supersonic aircraft on its radar, but it is focusing on a “small” research and development program to suppress the sonic boom. In fact, the company’s Quiet Spike, intended to do just that, has previously been tested on an F-15B testbed at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. (Photo: NASA)

Asked about Aerion’s redesigned supersonic business jet announced this week at EBACE, Gulfstream Aerospace president Larry Flynn said, “I think everyone knows Gulfstream has had an interest in supersonic and we have a small research and development project that has been under way for several years. The project is mostly focused on suppressing the sonic boom. Our intentions would be to fly a supersonic airplane over land. We want to have that capability, because we think that airplane will be more valuable and flexible.”