Supersonic Business Jet Will Become a Reality

The American company Aerion Corp, in collaboration with Airbus, is developing the supersonic business jet AS2. Representatives of the consortium even announced the expected certification date — the first half of 2023. The assembly of the aircraft will most likely take place in the USA. This was stated to reporters by Aerion Corp CEO Brian Barentz. Today, marketers estimate the AS2 market at 600 aircraft. In June 2015, the corporation's board of directors authorized the start of sales for supersonic jets priced at $120 million — special incentives and pricing offers will be available for the first 50 customers, exclusive to the initial tranche.

According to Mr. Barentz, aircraft capable of flying at speeds over 1.5 Mach will represent a new era in business communication. For the first 10 to 20 years, they will be the prerogative of only the very wealthy customers; however, over time, this will change. From a luxury innovation, supersonic planes will become a necessity, making them accessible to many.

Speaking about the technical specifications of the AS2, Aerion Corp's CEO noted that an engine is being developed that fully complies with environmental standards and regulations, primarily regarding noise levels. Considering that all countries have bans on supersonic flights over continental territories, the aircraft will not be able to reach its maximum speed in all locations. Flights at such speeds will only be possible over oceans and sparsely populated regions (for example, in Russia, Canada, or Australia, where such flights are permitted).

The company is continuously expanding its engineering structure and deepening its ties with Airbus Group, with which it has partnership agreements. Together, the companies are working on the technical development and refinement of the AS2 design — in March of this year, Aerion moved to a new office in Nevada, which is meant to accommodate the ever-growing number of employees and provide the necessary workspace. The company is currently in the phase of new low-speed testing of the model in a wind tunnel. Additionally, "significant progress has been made in shaping the exterior and interior design of the AS2," concludes Brian Barentz.