Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) plans to test a new breed of supersonic jetliner within the next two years. The aircraft is to be released in 2017, making possible a four-hour flight from Chicago to Paris.

Upcoming supersonic passenger aircraft QSST

© SAI

Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) is the title given to the new prototype being constructed by Nevada-based SAI. The prototype is expected to be ready for test-flights in 2014, and should be able to carry 12 passengers at speeds of up to mach 1.8.

Taking on the problems with commercial supersonic flight

What's extra special about the QSST concept is that its intended cruising altitude of 18 000 km should help to significantly reduce the noise of the sonic boom - which ultimately lead to the demise of the Concord.

Project Future

The first series of production aircraft will be available in 2017 at a price of 80 million dollars. Although there are still some technical and financial hurdles to overcome, a great number of independently wealthy investors and businessmen have expressed interest and offered their support. Another big problem with the Concord program was making it financially realistic - something that the QSST hopes to overcome.