Aircraft

Boeing joins with Aerion to bring world's first supersonic business jet to market

Boeing joins with Aerion to bring world's first supersonic business jet to market
The AS2 supersonic business jet is scheduled to fly in 2023
The AS2 supersonic business jet is scheduled to fly in 2023
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Interior of the AS2, which could become the world's first supersonic business jet to hit the market
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Interior of the AS2, which could become the world's first supersonic business jet to hit the market
The AS2 supersonic business jet is scheduled to fly in 2023
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The AS2 supersonic business jet is scheduled to fly in 2023
A render of Aerion's AS2 supersonic jet
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A render of Aerion's AS2 supersonic jet
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Boeing has entered the race to build the next generation of supersonic commercial aircraft, announcing a new partnership with Aerion. Though few details were given, the new agreement includes a "significant investment" by Boeing and will see the aerospace giant providing engineering, manufacturing and flight test facilities for the development of Aerion's AS2 supersonic business jet.

The aerospace field took a significant step backwards when the Concorde supersonic airliner retired from service in 2003. Since that time, no aircraft has appeared to replace it, but there have been significant technological developments over the decades since Concorde was built, as well as changes in attitudes toward supersonic flight that promise a new age of commercial faster-than-sound flight that will be more economical and environmentally friendly.

One significant player in the race to build the first Son of Concorde is the Reno, Nevada-based Aerion, which is developing a 12-passenger business jet that can fly at Mach 1.4 (1,038 mph, 1,671 km/h) using a GE Affinity engine, but with a significantly reduced sonic boom thanks to an advanced fuselage design. If things go according to schedule, the AS2 could fly by 2023 and enter service in 2025 to become the world's first supersonic business jet.

Until recently, Aerion was partnered with Lockheed Martin, which also provided technical support, but that alliance has been severed for undisclosed reasons.

"Boeing is leading a mobility transformation that will safely and efficiently connect the world faster than ever before," says Steve Nordlund, vice president and general manager of Boeing NeXt. "This is a strategic and disciplined leading-edge investment in further maturing supersonic technology. Through this partnership that combines Aerion's supersonic expertise with Boeing's global industrial scale and commercial aviation experience, we have the right team to build the future of sustainable supersonic flight."

Source: Boeing

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11 comments
11 comments
paul314
So just who is going to be using a 12-passenger supersonic business jet? Getting C-suite types somewhere a couple hours faster every now and then doesn't immediately seem worth the tens of millions this thing will cost to buy and operate. (It could be a statement of power and prestige to arrive in it, or it could be statement that shareholders and their money will soon be parted.)
I could imagine a small market for something like this (depending on where it can land) in the delivery of crucial parts or personnel, for operations where downtime can cost millions of dollars a day but remote access won't cut it.
Aross
Just another useless toy for the entitled rich and infamous on which to waste their money.
tony33
Reminds me, sort of, like an X-3 Stiletto
Michael son of Lester
Looking at the design photos, this aircraft is more son of F-104 Starfighter then it is son of Concord. Be that as it me, it is a beautiful design and I hope the collaboration between Boeing and Aerion works out.
MarylandUSA
The greenhouse-gas emissions per person-mile will be horrendous.
windykites
I notice that the wings are not swept back, but they look the same as the Starfighter, which is supersonic. Also like the Bell X1A.
Food4Thought
It would be interesting to see the business case, given the fuel consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions per mile and passenger). For military aircraft, speed can mean increased survivability. Maybe for medical situations, but that will be one hefty ambulance bill. Or, as mentioned previously, movement of critical parts or possibly certain expert personnel. If not these situations, then it may just be a hubris laden toy for the mega rich (Russian oligarchs and Saudi princes, or other privileged people). Or, maybe it will just be an expensive engineering exercise.
toolman65

In the 1970's the German Air Force had a saying " How do I get my own F 104? Answer: Buy a field and wait. "
Imran Sheikh
The design needs small retractable wings in the front to insure safe landing. That curvature below Jet engines will create a reverse lift, why do you want that. The main wings should start from the point where Jet engines are and then gradually expand. - Imran Sheikh
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