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Gulfstream reveals new supersonic aircraft, inlet designs in patent filings

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"Gulfstream has released new drawings of a supersonic business jet design in patent application forms, revealing features such as a telescoping nose, highly-sloped fuselage and variable-geometry wings." Doesn't look like the boys in Savannah are gonna let Cessna hold on to the "World's Fastest" title forever. (www.flightglobal.com) More...

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benin
benin 4
not to much of a looker. the shape doesn't appeal to me. long thin body with the long thin wings in the back. the shape along the side angle and nose cone don't help. if one of does a nosedive, it's going to stick like a dart
TorstenHoff
Torsten Hoff 4
Reminds me of a lawn dart -- is that bad?
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
That is bad.. Just think of how deep it would go... Supersonic CFIT. NTSB would really have to work that one.
preacher1
preacher1 1
It would probably take 1/2 dozen track hoes just to get down to it. All kidding aside, as someone said here, that is not your average corporate jet, besides needing to get there in a hurry.
bishops90
Brian Bishop 1
Time is money. Ain't that why we fly in the first place?
preacher1
preacher1 1
I guess, but that sure will be a lot of $ for an extra hour or 2.lol
bishops90
Brian Bishop 1
More than I'm worth, fer dang sure!
preacher1
preacher1 1
That would have to be for somebody with a lot of International business that needed to be in a hurry to get it done, or somebody on one coast doing a lot of business on the other, but I doubt if anybody in our bunch is in that big of a hurry.lol
A6SEA
Bill Butler 1
Sounds like a mini-SST. Didn't a few folks pay 10 grand per trip to get to one side or other of the Pond in a short time to accomplish some kind of business?
captainjman
Jason Feldman 1
I don't think I have ever seen any supersonic transport with so much dihedral. Im sure it will change a bit between this drawing and delivered aircraft, the plane doesn't look right. I wonder what the V speeds would be for this thing. Imagine if the swept wing froze (like flaps do) - what would that approach speed be like and how much runway would that eat up. I think there was an F14 that couldn't change back from high speed configuration but I never heard how he landed or where. Would be nice to see supersonic flight make a comeback. Like the Concorde, it would be a flagship of what is technologically possible. It definitely would be the rich man's "must have" to signal his wealth and power. Even if the plane was flown subsonically to save fuel most of the time - its a huge status symbol when you have an SST side by side with a Beech-jet. I hope they do it right- not like the beech starship. Even with quieter supersonic booms I would imagine it would still have a noticeable or distinct sound. When I flew the piaggio P180 many people said it was louder than any other aircraft, even jets like the MD88... but when you measured the Db level it was same or lower. People heard the P180 more because it sounded different than the other aircraft so it stood out. If this aircraft has a different sound I am sure people will complain that it is too noisy even if it isn't... so they have their work cut out for them. In a nation that doesn't mind if Harley davidson's pass by your house at 2am, but call the airport manager when a Cessna flies after 9pm- I wonder how well this SST will do in the night hours when you really can go faster with less traffic. Even in the CL-65 with only a .85 Mach top speed, ATC slows you down quite a bit during the day. Many times we were slowed to .77 or .70... so when you put these two issues (daytime congestion and nighttime noise) I don't know if it will be used for coast to coast travel in the US. One thing for sure though, when these babies are in production I would love to fly it :) Thats the best part of flying for a living - someone else gets to buy the cool toys and then we get to play with it. :)
preacher1
preacher1 1
When you having your next back surgery?
onceastudentpilot
tim mitchell 1
the P180 sounds like a motorcycle stuck in first gear...lol
captainjman
Jason Feldman 2
Looks like Feb 25 or 28 - they are going to fuse my entire thoracic spine - from T2 to L2.

Yeah - the p180 sounds funny. I always said it looks like a catfish and sounds like a weed whacker
preacher1
preacher1 1
Well, it flies and is pretty fast, and cheaper than a jet, both in initial cost and operation. Not that much speed difference either by the time ATC gets thru with most jets.
captainjman
Jason Feldman 1
That's all cool-aid. The plane may be nice on paper but it's a hanger queen. I have never seen any other aircraft with a PT6 that had as many engine failures. Then there are the door cables that keep breaking, or the door seals that fail constantly. But that's nothing compared to a ref speed of 120-130 with no anti-skid breaks, brakes that if used aggressively even once could end up with a blown tire and scratch the wheel hub and brake assembly in half, and that is nothing compared to the myriad frozen flight controls in flight... The plane looks good on paper - and even from far away - but get to close and you'll see the bondo all over the plane, it has serious issues- and yes many of those problems could have been operator specific - but you couldn't get a rock solid platform to have as many problems if you tried. It's Italian - they are known for mx heavy vehicles that can be costly to maintain. A lamborghini mechanic told me that if you look at the total cost of ownership - it costs an average owner over 2500 each time the keys go into the ignition - notice I didn't say start the engine - because they don't always start. Same goes for the P180 which is why we had a handful of canabalized aircraft in our hanger (those owners were not to happy about that, let me tell you) - and they didn't have a choice because not only is the plane a hanger queen - but parts take forever and a day to arrive from the land of pasta and piaggio scooters, uh - I mean airplanes. The external design was fantastic, but many of us pilots always discussed how it seems like the engineers tried their hardest to screw up all the systems. I mean, really- why put a pitot drain at a high point of the system - most drains on earth are at the lowest point - but I shit you not - it's in the upper half of the network of plastic tubes. God, the nose gear- why didn't I start with the nose gear - the plane has only single tire mains but a double tire nose gear. Now, in order to make the plane as awkward as possible- the gear comes down in an angle, so now, when you turn either direction- one wheel rides on its sidewall while the other lifts off the pavement. And that makes it real squarely on the ground - but not squirmy enough - so to help make it even worse- they decided that the rudders won't be mechanically connected to the nose wheel but it is connected to the huge rudder. So now, while you have no tactile feel for the nose gear - when a gust of wind hits the tail it makes steering in windy conditions difficult to say the least - but then. - to seal the deal - they installed a really bad steering motor/servo. So when you taxi in windy conditions the nose wheel steering system fails constantly. - and there are some real safety issues in flight- like the flaps system that doesnt monitor the flaps position, but rather if the motor is in sync. So you can have a motor spinning freely without affecting the flap itself, have a huge asymmetric flap situation and not even have an indication. - oh the list is too long to complete here - But don't get too excited about the numbers- the P180 loses its luster when you look closer. And yet I was saddened when I could no longer fly it - but now looking back - I clearly miss flying but I ambient miss that catfish one bit. Of the perspective owners knew what I did - they would pay more not for the prestige of a jet - but because they would know the whole truth. As for speed- that's total BS - the plane may fly .70 when new - but just a year later it won't even do that. The POH/AFM even deducts 5% for a dirty airplane. And ATC is constantly making you descend to get out of the way of faster traffic - burning a ton of extra gas - and now even shorter flights need a fuel stop - but the operator doesn't like pilots to plan fuel stops- no they want to divert for fuel so that sales can keep selling its lie. The piaggio is the plane that almost was. I hope this SST will be better - and it probably will- because it's company is known for building great airplanes - not mainly mopeds and occasionally aircraft. Their workers make planes and replacement parts year round- and they make a good quality product. On the P180 even the interior is garbage. Drawers that won't stay shut, window shades that droop or fall apart, emergency exits blocked by interior covering falling off the high tech Velcro - the bathroom door than doesn't close fully - the honey bucket rather than external servicing (which many aircraft have) but on the P180 it is a big deal because of the sheer number of issues. Like having to climb onto the wing (need a ladder to get on) and then having to unscrew 16 hex screws to remove a service plate just to add oil. Only in the last two years have they been retrofitting quick access panels aftermarket. It would have been sooner (just like the problem with the leading edge) but our company DO tried to bully the FAA and.even was
Proud of how many FAA POI's he was able to train the Avantair way - do of course they dragged their feet when we needed things approved. So, the DO decided to send out a new GOM withal dive changes without approval by the POI!!! That was just one of the great mess ups by a DO that should be in prison rather than occupying that office. But that's what you get when your company fills
Positions with friends rather than by qualifications. And that is just a peek into why the FAA asked them to stand down operations a few times. So many stories - and most of them documented with pictures or video as proof. I took them to show to MX but I still have them. Shoot me a private message if you'd like to see some ;)
preacher1
preacher1 1
That's a tall glass of Kool Aid, my friensd.LOL
onceastudentpilot
tim mitchell 1
the MU-2 has he same gear set-up...I wonder if the bad taxiing characteristics have anything to do with the plane just being top heavy aft of the gear
preacher1
preacher1 1
Wasn't one of them what you were changing a battery on when you fell and hurt your back?
captainjman
Jason Feldman 1
The Battery quick disconnect is another design flaw, yes. Human factors is an important aspect of aircraft design. Average human male height is 69 inches. I am 5'9" myself and could not reach the disconnect. I was not alone - so much so that in training we were told to use our suitcases to step on to reach the battery because they didn't want to use the tiny amount of cargo space on a ladder or step stool. I was kept from getting medical treatment so my lawyer did a little snooping - and it turns out that I was not the only one hurt this way. We found out that there were three big injuries that we got hard evidence of and two others we could not pove. To have 5 out of 250 pilots get seriously hurt from the design of the battery access is pretty substantial. Just like the fact 10% of our fleet had run off a runway. The plane looks nice and the figures look good on paper - but in reality it's pretty pathetic. I've got the truth on my side - not nervous jokes attempting to divert attention or poking fun at people. It's possible for other aircraft to have a single design problem in common with the P180 - but the piaggio has way too many. While I flew it I was ignoring the problems because I wanted to stay at the same job until retirement. But seeing how my company turned their back on me after I was injured - just as others who were hurt or used FMLA when they had a baby. I know because I defended many while I was on the PAC. I saw pilots who were at the company for nearly a decade let go because they refused to fly over gross, or with open write ups not covered by the MEL - and suddenly fail check rides or Orals. In retrospect I should have quit - but I was willing to overlook a lot for the 7 and 7 schedule. I didn't break a single rule-nor did I fly illegally - mind you! As someone who helped them promote the BS about the plane - trust me - its all cool aid!
preacher1
preacher1 1
Like I said, a tall glas of Kool Aid. At any rate, Although probably not your best, I'll say Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hannukah
captainjman
Jason Feldman 1
I appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you too and thank you for not swallowing all the Kool-Aid piaggio makes available
preacher1
preacher1 1
Well, it all looks refreshing. It's good to know what goes into it. As far as your company turning their back on you after your injury. Sad as it is, there are a lot like that. When you start costing them money and can no longer produce, they start trying to throw you away, not realizing that you are a human being as well. They put you into an adversarial position out of necessity and survival. I've seen both sides of it and geberally the other side costs no more and then you have an assett at the end rather than an enemy.
captainjman
Jason Feldman 1
I've seen both sides - and so has the US government. It showed the government how bad injured workers were treated that they gave legal protection to workers - a protection that should have deterred my company from letting me go. But they did anyway. Now I have to sue for damages- and the cost of that will far exceed the cost of keeping me on board. They were not paying any salary this whole time - and they even dumped their insurance so they stopped paying those premiums - but these cases cost millions - its not just the penalty and award - its the legal costs.
preacher1
preacher1 1
Sounds like a bunch of real prizes
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
If you go higher than FL 410 you will be in a safer area, and more direct routes. Could say some travel expenses.... Besides.. Maybe your boss will get on and you can give us a first hand review.
preacher1
preacher1 1
I just don't care for anything with a prop on it. A couple of years ago, while still doing some AA/Eagle work, I wound up on an ATR. I'm glad they got rid of them all. Them things were nasty, noisy, and slow. The only props I would like a crack at is one of these here that we are talking about and a Q400.
GaAubie
Ken Hardy 1
Used to have a Rockwell 680, a great stable plane very good for US travel yes it was noisy but that's what they make DC's for
JerryRichards
I am conducting an investigation of Avantair on behalf of investors. I am a retired FBI agent and I would like to contact former Avantair pilots like ypurself about Avantair's failure to do necessary maintenance. Jerry Richards [email protected]
augerin
Dave Mathes 1
that does strike a funny mental image....!
unclebigpete
Peter Douglas 3
wow, is that a sexy-looking beast or what!
Craphat
Nick Grant 3
Brian, I absolutely agree. Do you feel there's a chance they might actually build this mini-missile?
bishops90
Brian Bishop 2
I'm sure it's a ways off yet but eventually, yes I think they will. Why? Because they can. And because somebody, or enough somebodies, will have to have one.
onceastudentpilot
tim mitchell 3
Now the FO's will have a new job......cleaning off the "quiet spike" of remains of all those harpooned birds that never seen it coming....lol
Moviela
Ric Wernicke 5
The patent application does not mention that the size and weight of all the "Whisper" technology makes it a two place aircraft with a maximum range of thirt-five nautical miles.

All kidding aside, it looks incredible.
unclebigpete
Peter Douglas 4
LOL, but in the text it says it's a bit less than '...13.7m (45.1ft) interior cabin length...', which implies the tip to tail length is somewhat longer than a B737. Not your average corporate jet!
t1sby
Tim Bray 2
look up the specs for the G650.
talbotent
Roy Talbot 1
finaly back to the future
t1sby
Tim Bray 1
I think this will be a blend of the G650 and the G550. G650 is already rated to .95 mach, structure seems to be able to handle the sweep wings. The nose issue is a whole nother ball game. If they can get it out there far enough, the wave will have to travel farther out torwards the winglets. I could get on board with one of these. Great innovation from a Private American Comapany!!!
bluthco
Ronald Chong 1
Dddd
editorialphotos
Potential need for speed: Exxon Mobile;A-M Steel;AEP;Mining Industry. All have multi-continent operations.Then,of course......Mark Cuban!
SootBox
SootBox 1
Needs some switchblade canards on the nose somewhere, that cone is asking for trouble.
GaAubie
Ken Hardy 1
I guess some people will want one but they better have a large maintanance budget, variable wings and super tuned power plants cost a lot to keep flying. I think .8 to .9 mach is fast enough and safer
daveblevins52
Dave Blevins 1
I remember back in '74 when I first saw a G-2, and boy was I excited. It was operating for Coca Cola, and the crew was very hospitable to me (line slime/gopher/refueler at the time), and invited me aboard for coffee and a danish. Thank you guys for your time and "motivational tour"! Wow!
This jet however, reminds me of the one in the "Johnny Quest" cartoons series.
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
Looking at it from a maintenance point of view, Emphasis on "POINT" it is going to be fun to taxi, and even more fun to put into a hangar... For the sake of Mechanics working on this thing, I hope they have a nose cone to put over the tip... It looks lethal.
Darrens
Darren Shields 1
At least there's precedent of ground crew needing protection from the a/c. The F-104 Starfighter comes to mind. The leading edges of the wings were covered when on the ground to protect the unwary that might walk into them accidently.

The wing was extremely thin, with a thickness-to-chord ratio of only 3.36%. Its aspect ratio was 2.45. The wing's leading edges were so thin (0.016 in / 0.41 mm) and so sharp that they presented a hazard to ground crews
preacher1
preacher1 1
Best I remember, wasn't it's nickname THUD and/or MISSLE WITH A WING?
onceastudentpilot
tim mitchell 1
Moviela
Ric Wernicke 1
The boys in my shop would not be calling it a "nose cone."
Craphat
Nick Grant 1
From a MX point of view, I see the potential for trouble with two things: the nose & the wings. Any time you have variable geometry anything, the weight and complexity of the associated systems skyrockets (flight controls, wing swing, anti-ice, etc). Can you imagine having to rig something like that?
sparkie624
sparkie624 2
Yeah.. I can imagine rigging that... LOL, I can also see Nightmares as well
bishops90
Brian Bishop 2
Obviously moving parts create complexities and challenges, but at least this is not groundbreaking technology for supersonic aircraft (the wings anyway). The telescoping nose is intriguing.
unclebigpete
Peter Douglas 1
My aeronautical engineering is a bit rusty these days, but if the reason for the extended nose is quieter flight past Mach 1, why not just have it extended all the time - ie a long skinny nose? Maybe that'd make it too hard for the driver to land/park it! Concorde has a drooping nose to allow better visibility.
avnational
Phil Carson 1
True Peter-but the Concord is anything but a "quite technology" aircraft. The Ruskies are also developing this "quite" mode of supersonic flight, but from a different consept. Gosh, my Cessna 150 will never be the same now-
onceastudentpilot
tim mitchell 1
Your C150 better stay out of the way or it'll be harpooned..lol
augerin
Dave Mathes 2
yea, from a MX point of view, I can see an entire area of specialty opening up
ad8916
Aaron Donnelly 1
It's ugly!
daveblevins52
Dave Blevins 1
Merry Christmas to all.

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