Really Quiet Stage 3 Hush Kit Receives FAA Approval; Offers Gulfstream GII/IIB/III Owners...

Business Editors

MOJAVE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2002

Illinois-based Corporate Fleet Owner Offers Stage 1 GII

For First Hush Kit Upgrade

Really Quiet LLC, today announced that the company has received Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval of

By achieving full FAA compliance, Really Quiet offers the solution to Gulfstream II/IIB/III owners who are confronted with expanding travel restrictions related to FAR 36, Stage 3, and Annex 16 noise rules. Today, many airports around the world, including a number in the United States, are limiting arrivals and departures of Gulfstream GII/IIB/III jets due to noise level concerns from surrounding community members. According to industry estimates, up to 80 percent of major airports may impede Gulfstream air travel if these aircraft are not in compliance with Stage 3 regulations.

"After more than two years of extensive development and flight testing of our hush kit on our company Gulfstream GII, the FAA approval now makes it possible for other Gulfstream owners to comply with Stage 3 noise regulations, and extend the operational usefulness of their aircraft," said Dave Hewitt, formerly of Rolls-Royce Canada, Director of Marketing for Really Quiet LLC. "Our hush kit provides a retrofit alternative to the prospect of being operationally restricted by the demanding and stricter environmental noise standards currently being considered and, in fact, already imposed by some regional airport authorities." Mr. Hewitt also noted that the company expected JAR and European regulatory approval for Really Quiet Hush Kits shortly.

Hush Kits Available Through Approved Service Centers.

Really Quiet will be building a national network of company approved independent service centers to offer its Stage 3 hush kit for installation. The company will train personnel and monitor installations at these centers while continuing to provide hushkit installation services from its Mojave location. The first installation, at an independent service center is scheduled to commence in April 2002.

"We have received tremendous interest from experienced service centers around the country who wish to become approved installation centers," said Mr. Hewitt. "These businesses recognize that the Really Quiet kit will not only allow them to help their customers comply with Stage 3 regulations, but also maximize the operational life of their aircraft and greatly enhance the resale value."

Currently, Really Quiet is working with its first Stage 3 kit customer, JFM Enterprises of Oak Brook, Illinois, a diversified corporate and private equity investment enterprise. This customer confirmed that the selection of the Really Quiet Hush Kit was based on design merit, and the fact that it would satisfy all their aircraft usability requirements at noise sensitive airports, while at the same time enhancing the market value of the aircraft. "Without the hush kit, our GII would be severely limited in its flight options, so we were looking at ways to meet the restrictions and avoid the depreciating impact these restrictions will have on the resale values of the GII and GIII," said Tom Mikrut, Vice President of JFM Enterprises. The Really Quiet Hush Kit represents the only commercially available option to meet these demands."

Innovative Engineering Delivers Quieter Performance

The Really Quiet Hush Kit is the only hush kit manufactured to incorporate a translating ejector. While in the take-off and approach configuration (ejector aft), the hush kit forces exhaust through a uniquely designed nozzle into an ejector shroud that ultimately reduces exhaust velocity, hence noise values. Once the aircraft is out of the noise sensitive area, the ejector shroud is translated forward, reducing drag and allowing the aircraft to climb out and cruise to its destination with minimum penalties. The hydraulically operated translating ejector takes two seconds to deploy and retract, and does not require any changes in cockpit readout or increase pilot workload. The redesigned thrust reverser forms an integral part of the translating ejector and is also operated by aircraft hydraulics.

Greatly reducing the noise of the Rolls-Royce Spey 511-8 engine, the Really Quiet Hush Kit delivers noise levels that are well below today's mandated regulations. Interior cabin noise levels also are reduced.

The innovative design of the hush kit provides for easy integration into the appearance of the aircraft, eliminating concern of overall aircraft aesthetics.

About Really Quiet

Based in Mojave, California, Really Quiet LLC specializes in the development of hush kit technology and its application to aircraft noise problems. The company is applying its knowledge to the solution of Stage 3 noise compliance for Gulfstream II/IIB (GII) and Gulfstream III (GIII) aircraft. Really Quiet personnel, with John Ligon as Project Manager, has been at the forefront of hush kit design, fabrication and certification for hush kits on virtually all Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft. These aircraft include 707-300, DC8-62/63, DC9-10/30, 737-200, 727-100, 727-200, Falcon 20, Sabreliner 80 and LearJet 20 Series Aircraft. The knowledge and experience gained during those programs has been applied to the development of the Really Quiet GII/IIB/GIII hush kit.

For more information on Really Quiet's hush kit for Gulfstream II, IIB and III aircraft, please contact: Dave Hewitt at 514-697-9300 (email: dhewitt@sympatico.ca) or George Ottendorf at 818-345-0833. Additional product information can be found at ReallyQuiet's Web site, www.reallyquiet.com.