Abstract: The types of externally pressure gas lubrication bearings and its development are introduced. The theoretical and experimental researches of the sharp pressure drop of externally pressure gas lubrication bearings are reviewed, and their features and defects are analyzed.It is concluded that low-supplied gas pressure and low-capacity load are the intrinsic defects of traditional gas bearings. Furthermore, according to aerodynamics and its relevant tests, the performance advantages of supersonic gas lubrication bearing are studied in detail. Without the limitation of supplied gas pressure, load capacity is increasing proportional to supplied gas pressure. The development of CFD provides poten-tial tool for the research of supersonic gas bearings. In terms of different fluid features in different gas bearing parts, the precise gas lubrication model can be reached by segmented fluid field. At last supersonic gas lubrication bearing is pointed out as one of the development tendencies of gas lubrication bearings.

Key words: Gas lubrication bearing, Supersonic