October 12, 2004 QSST Press Release

Media Contact:
Michelle Blaya
310-463-2420

Supersonic Aerospace International To Revolutionize Air Travel
First-Ever Supersonic Jet to Include
Innovative Sonic Boom Suppression Technology

LAS VEGAS, October 12, 2004 - Revolutionizing modern business travel by removing the greatest obstacle in supersonic travel, a group of aviators, investors, designers and production engineers, with a proven record of success, has tackled the once thought unreachable challenge of suppressing sonic boom, and has designed a jet that will cut by half the travel time between many long-distance destinations.

After three and one-half years of work, Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) today revealed that it has successfully confirmed the design for the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) which will facilitate transcontinental and intercontinental supersonic travel. The QSST will be able to comply with or exceed all applicable environmental standards and FAA rules for takeoff and landing noise.

Unlike any other jet ever built, the QSST uses innovative aerodynamic shaping and employs a patented inverted V-tail, allowing the aircraft to achieve unprecedented levels of sonic boom suppression – even when flying at least twice the speed of current civil aircraft. Advanced integrated design features reduce sonic boom level to less than 1/100 that of the Concorde. The QSST program has been managed by J. Michael Paulson, son of leading aerospace pioneer Allen Paulson, using funds Allen Paulson left in trust for this project. The QSST is the only jet with a patented design to produce an aerodynamically shaped sonic boom signature making it possible to secure legal permission to fly supersonic over populated land areas throughout the world.

“The QSST is a giant leap in speed, productivity, and comfort. It will define the future of business, commercial and government travel in the 21st Century,” said J. Michael Paulson. “Cruising at supersonic speeds for over 4,000 nautical miles, this revolutionary aircraft will transport 12 passengers to many global destinations in one-half the travel time. Operating from ordinary worldwide runways, it will travel at speeds of Mach 1.6 and 1.8 with the reliability and passenger comfort that the aerospace, commercial and business communities have come to expect.”

SAI’s successful design of the QSST was achieved by placing Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works under contract to develop the aircraft design. Lockheed Martin has over 50-years of experience designing and producing innovative high-altitude, high-speed aircraft.

“The design team has overcome significant engineering challenges to design an aircraft incorporating advanced supersonic cruise and breakthrough sonic boom suppression technologies that allow it to cruise efficiently and quietly over long ranges. It will offer comfort, reliability and safety. Our sonic boom mitigation techniques have been validated through extensive tests and analysis,” said J. Michael Paulson.

General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce have provided original, competing engine concepts for possible placement in the QSST. Applying the latest engine technologies all three companies have developed engine concepts that provide highly efficient cruise while retaining quiet airport operations that meet or exceed current and future noise regulations. The latest emissions reduction technologies ensure that QSST satisfies all environment concerns – worldwide.

About Supersonic Aerospace International, LLC (SAI)

SAI was founded by J. Michael Paulson in 2001 for the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust to carry on the vision of his father, Allen Paulson, legendary aviation pioneer. SAI provided funding for Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ Phase 1 efforts to assess the feasibility of bringing QSST to market and is now leading the drive to bring QSST to reality.

For more information on this project, please visit www.saiproject.com