Published in the US Government's Patent and Trademark office's Official Gazette yesterday was an application from Gulfstream to the trademark name, Gulfstream Whisper.
What is it? According to the Gazette, it's an "aircraft featuring a design which reduces boom intensities during supersonic flight."
By formally applying for the trademark, the government says Gulfstream "has a bona fide intention to use or use through the applicant's related company or licensee the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods and/or services"
Could it be that Gulfstream is inching ever closer to launching a supersonic business jet?
Patents, the latest filed in 2007, show a vehicle (above) that reduces sonic boom with an extendable nose spike.
There's still that nagging federal rule in place prohibiting supersonic flight of civilian aircraft over land, a barrier Gulfstream says must be knocked down before a manufacturer will take the leap into the market.
However the FAA and others are taking a new look at the potential for easing the restrictions by better quantifying how loud is too loud for a sonic boom,
Those who don't like the name can have their say. According to the Gazette, "Any party who believes they will be damaged by registration of the mark may oppose its registration by filing an opposition to registration or a request to extend the time to oppose within thirty (30) days from the publication date on this notice."
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