Lockheed SST Model

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This is a 1/60th scale model of the Lockheed SST 2707-200. 

The Lockheed SST (Supersonic Transport) 2707 was a proposed supersonic passenger aircraft designed during the 1960s. It was intended to be the United States’ answer to the British-French Concorde and the Soviet Tupolev Tu-144, both of which were supersonic airliners in development at the time. The SST 2707 project aimed to revolutionize air travel by offering faster and more efficient supersonic flights for commercial passengers.

Here are some key details about the Lockheed SST 2707:

  1. Development and Competition: The Lockheed SST 2707 project was initiated in response to the growing interest in supersonic travel during the 1960s. It faced competition from other supersonic airliners being developed worldwide, including the Concorde and the Tu-144.
  2. Design and Features: The SST 2707 was designed to carry between 250 and 300 passengers at speeds of Mach 2.7, which is significantly faster than the speed of sound. It featured a delta-wing design and a long, slender fuselage. The aircraft was intended to be capable of flying transatlantic routes at supersonic speeds.
  3. Environmental Concerns: The development of the SST 2707 faced significant opposition and controversy due to concerns about the environmental impact of supersonic flight, including the generation of sonic booms and the high-altitude emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). These concerns ultimately played a role in the project’s demise.
  4. Government Funding and Cancellation: The SST 2707 received financial support from the U.S. government as part of a program to develop a domestic supersonic transport. However, due to budget concerns, environmental protests, and changing priorities, the U.S. Congress canceled funding for the project in 1971, effectively ending the SST 2707 program.
  5. Legacy: The cancellation of the Lockheed SST 2707 marked the end of the United States’ efforts to develop a supersonic passenger aircraft. The Concorde and the Tu-144, though limited in numbers and routes, went on to provide supersonic commercial service for several years.

While the Lockheed SST 2707 never became a reality, it remains a notable part of aviation history as one of the most prominent American attempts to develop a supersonic airliner. The project’s cancellation signaled a shift in priorities away from supersonic travel in favor of more environmentally friendly and economically viable aviation options.

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