#boeing sst

[stone-cold-groove]

Scale model kit artwork - the Boeing 2707-200 SST resplendent in United Air Lines livery.

[lonestarflight]

Artist's impression of Boeing SST double decker concept.

"The SST lives on

This Boeing artist's concept shows what a future supersonic transport might look like as it carries passengers to their destinations at more than twice the speed of sound. An American SST is a long way off, of course, but the space agency and the aerospace Industry are continuing low-level technology studies in the event future developments warrant a faster-than-sound commercial airliner. This is one of many concepts studied by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. under funding from the government and Its own resources. This particular plane would seat 480 persons in all-tourist class for three-hour transocean flights."

Date: May 28, 1981

source

[projecthabu]

     The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was an enormous bomber that flew at speeds up to Mach 3. It was an incredible airplane propelled by an equally incredible engine: the General Electric YJ93. Even with impressive efficiency and a thrust to weight ratio of better than 7:1, it took six of these to push the Valkyrie to its top speed. During one test flight, a piece of the aircraft’s intake was dislodged and ingested. This destroyed all six engines in one multi-million dollar instant. 

     Unfortunately, the XB-70 and two subsequent aircraft associated with the engine never saw production. The XB-70 was cancelled after a prototype flight test program. Another aircraft that would have used this engine, the North American XF-108 Rapier, never got off the ground. While Boeing was working toward creating the 2707 Supersonic Transport, the YJ93 was developed into the GE4 engine, but once again, the aircraft never came to fruition. All three aircraft associated with this engine were doomed.

     A handful of these prototype YJ93s remain scattered about the United States.The first six photos show the artifact at March Field Air Museum on March Air Reserve Base, California, and the final four photos show another engine stored by the Air Force Flight Test Museum on Edwards Air Force Base, California. These engines represent their various programs that could have been so much more.

[stone-cold-groove]

Boeing engineers at work on the company’s supersonic transport program.

[stone-cold-groove]

Scale mockup of the Boeing SST prototype - 1961.

[stone-cold-groove]

You’ll travel three times faster than the speed of sound in the new SST. Ad for Republic Steel Corporation - 1968.

[stone-cold-groove]

An artist’s conceptual illustration of the Boeing 2707-300 super sonic transport.

[stone-cold-groove]

Artist’s concept of the proposed Boeing 2707-300 super sonic transport.