Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST)

NASA is spearheading the return of a supersonic passenger airplane with the award of a contract for the preliminary design of a “low boom” flight demonstration aircraft. NASA has chosen a team at Lockheed Martin along with GE Aviation and California’s Tri Models Inc. to develop a concept design.  This is the first in a series of ‘X-planes’ in NASA's New Aviation Horizons initiative, introduced in the agency’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

This is an artist’s concept of a possible Low Boom Flight Demonstration Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) X-plane design.  Credits: Lockheed Martin

The Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) project technology will lower the noise of a supersonic plane from the current loud boom to a level similar to a soft thump. “Developing, building and flight testing a quiet supersonic X-plane is the next logical step in our path to enabling the industry's decision to open supersonic travel for the flying public," said Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission.

Other artist’s concept.