Aerion AS2

AS2
Role Supersonic business jet
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aerion
Developed from Aerion SBJ

The Aerion AS2 is a supersonic business jet designed by Aerion Corporation in collaboration with Airbus, scheduled to enter service in 2023.[1] The aircraft was first announced during September 2014, with test flights expected to commence in 2019.[2][3][4] The unit cost is estimated to be US$120 million.[5]

The AS2 will fly at a speed of Mach 1.5, using supersonic laminar flow technology, and the wing design will allow for lighter fuel consumption and increased travel ranges by reducing aerodynamic drag by 20%. The cabin is designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers.[2] NASA has issued a contract to model supersonic boom on ground.[6] New noise regulations coming in 2020 caused Aerion to change design from 2 to 3 engines.[7]

Orders

In November 2015, Flexjet confirmed that they had placed a firm order valued at $2.4 billion for twenty Aerion AS2s, with delivery to begin in 2023.[8] Flexjet CEO Kenn Ricci said the company would use the supersonic jet for overseas flights and also in China, which does not have restrictions on sonic booms. Ricci noted that, with the aircraft traveling at Mach 1.2, its boom would not reach the ground, possibly allowing regulators to permit supersonic flight over land. Flexjet, owned by Directional Aviation Capital, offers customers fractional ownership of aircraft, rather than outright purchase.[9]

Specifications (AS2)

Data from Aerion,[10][11] FlightGlobal,[12] AINonline[13] – projected

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "New Supersonic Age in Flight Coming, Says Aerion Chief". Aviation International News.
  2. 1 2 Airbus to help develop first supersonic business jet, CNN, 24 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Billionaire’s Supersonic-Jet Plan Gets Help From Airbus, Bloomberg, 23 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Airbus Plans To Build A Supersonic Business Jet To Fly You From Washington To Paris In 5 Hours", Business Insider, 23 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Aerion Taking Orders for AS2 Supersonic Bizjet". Flying Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Rockwell Collins to Develop Sonic Boom Display". Flying Magazine.
  7. ↑ "Aerion continues search for an US assembly site", Flight global (Dubai: Reed).
  8. ↑ "Flexjet Order For 20 Supersonic Jets Boosts Aerion". Aviation Week. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Flexjet orders 20 supersonic business jets from Aerion". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Technical Specifications". Aerion supersonic. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Aerion AS2 performance objectives and specifications" (PDF). Aerion. May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Sarsfield, Kate (22 September 2014), "Aerion advances supersonic ambitions with Airbus collaboration", Flightglobal (Reed Business Information), retrieved 25 September 2014
  13. ↑ Trautvetter, Chad. "Aerion SSBJ Now a Trijet with Bigger Cabin, More Range". Aviation International News (online ed.). Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "EBACE: Aerion plans supersonic engine selection later this year". Flightglobal. Reed.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Long range cruise, supersonic
  2. ^ Long range cruise, subsonic
  3. ^ Boomless cruise
  4. ^ Max range IFR, Mach 1.4
  5. ^ Max range IFR, Mach 0.95

External links

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