Is the industry a step or two closer to a viable supersonic business jet? Could be, after what Gulfstream is calling last week's successful test of its so-called Quiet Spike "sonic boom mitigator." According to the company, the device successfully completed its first supersonic flight on Friday, Oct. 20, attached to the nose of a NASA F-15B research aircraft. Gulfstream says it has been collaborating with the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center to conduct flight-testing of the device's structural integrity since mid-July. Gulfstream says the Quiet Spike, an image of which they did not have prior to our deadline, was flown at Mach 1.2 and operated as designed. Last week's supersonic flight followed others beginning Sept. 25 and worked to establish a flight envelope that included an altitude range of 15,000 and 35,000 feet and a maximum speed of Mach .80.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/one-step-closer-to-a-supersonic-bizjet