Gulfstream Aerospace president Bryan Moss dismissed the company’s long-discussed “Quiet Supersonic Jet” (QSJ) during last month’s EBACE, prompting the aircraft’s removal from AIN’s In the Works chart. Moss pre-empted inquiring minds at a press conference by asking and answering the question himself: “Will Gulfstream build a supersonic business jet? Read my lips: No!” He did elaborate that the company is currently devoting its efforts in this field of research to two issues: rule changes that would allow supersonic flight over land and sonic-boom suppression.

A spokesman later expanded on the issue, saying that Gulfstream is working on technology– including a telescopic boom that reduces sonic booms to a whisper and variable-geometry wings–that would enable a supersonic business jet but not an SSBJ itself. However, the spokesman said that Moss’s remarks do not exclude the company from being part of a consortium to build an SSBJ.

Incidentally, both Aerion and Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) are seeking partners to build their respective SSBJs. But Gulfstream’s supersonic philosophy seems more closely aligned with that of SAI, which is developing the Mach 1.8 Quiet Small Supersonic Transport. SAI seeks to change supersonic overland regulations and is focused
on developing an SSBJ with an ultra-low supersonic boom.    o