supersonic no more
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Flexjet orders 20 supersonic business jets from from Aerion
Beginnings of a new supersonic era?
Notably, if the Aerion AS2 flies at Mach 1.2 at or above FL350, its sonic boom will not reach the ground -- possibly allowing supersonic flights within the continental US and Europe, in addition to oceanic flights and regions with no supersonic restrictions (notably China).
Read more at Reuters
REUTERS -- Nov 17 Flexjet said it ordered 20 of Aerion Corp's AS2 supersonic business jets, which will make the private jet travel firm the first to offer publically available supersonic transport since the Concorde was grounded in 2003.
AS2, a three-engine jet that can carry eight to 12 passengers, is being developed by Aerion in collaboration with Airbus Group. It is expected to make its maiden flight in 2021 and enter service in 2023.
AS2, a three-engine jet that can carry eight to 12 passengers, is being developed by Aerion in collaboration with Airbus Group. It is expected to make its maiden flight in 2021 and enter service in 2023.
Read more at Reuters
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if the Aerion AS2 flies at Mach 1.2 at or above FL350, its sonic boom will not reach the ground
I also fail to see the interest to fly at M1.2 compared to a Citation X at M.9 at 1/5 th of the price.
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Sonic booms and mach 1.2
A simple explanation of why the sonic boom does not reach the ground when at Mach 1.2 above FL350 is found here:
Quiet Supersonic - NASA Chases Fleeting Booms | Things With Wings
Cubemaster
Quiet Supersonic - NASA Chases Fleeting Booms | Things With Wings
Cubemaster
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Thanks cubemaster. very interesting , we'll see if those "evanescent waves" are acceptable or not to people on the ground , but the schema in the article raise another question : would the reflected wave be perceided by following aircraft flying behind/below ?
A simple explanation of why the sonic boom does not reach the ground when at Mach 1.2 above FL350 is found here:
Quiet Supersonic - NASA Chases Fleeting Booms | Things With Wings
Quiet Supersonic - NASA Chases Fleeting Booms | Things With Wings
"It's supposed to cruise at M1.4-M1.5 over water. Still not quite Concorde, though."
it would still spare an hour or two on transoceanic flights, in business world that might be worthwhile
it would still spare an hour or two on transoceanic flights, in business world that might be worthwhile
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Smells like a PR stunt to me. Mach 1.2-1.5 has huge transonic drag and the massive additional fuel consumption will eat away you range, which is not worth the marginal overall speed increase. At least not for a significant number of aircraft to make the development costs break even.
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Mach 1.2-1.5 has huge transonic drag and the massive additional fuel consumption will eat away you range, which is not worth the marginal overall speed increase.
A laminar flow wing significantly reduces drag, up to 90% reduction compared to current supersonic wings. The reduction in total drag (including other parts of the aircraft) is more modest -- predicted to be around 20% -- but that's enough to make supersonic flight economical.
Aerion's airfoil was able to simultaneously maintain laminar flow while shaping the sonic boom to enable quiet flight.
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You can be sure that the beancounters will have worked out the comparative costs of travel by different means, including down time while traveling.
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With AS2 an executive might have morning meetings in New York, then head to London to sign a deal, then make it back to New York in time for dinner & daughter's piano recital that evening.
When you're a billionaire, why not?
When you're a billionaire, why not?
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I know about a couple of people which are looking into a A340 Private Jet. O.K the aircraft is rather cheap, but the cost for conversion and the tco 
or think about what people are willing to paar for the Gulfstream G650
From my point of view the market is there.
or think about what people are willing to paar for the Gulfstream G650From my point of view the market is there.
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Also, whilst there are a couple of jets that cruise at 0.9+, how many actually do it more than once after they see the fuel consumption?
The current "fast" jets are mostly top trump machines themselves.
The current "fast" jets are mostly top trump machines themselves.
There are a fair number of "cost is no object" people out there - Boeing has delivered over 200 Boeing Business Jets (including seven 777, nine 787, and eight 747-8) and the cost of the custom interiors is typically similar to the cost of the airframe.
It's long been speculated that the next supersonic passenger aircraft would be a business jet - this would seem to confirm that.
All that being said, I'll believe it when I see it. There are some major regulatory challenges (today's regulations are far removed from what Concorde was certified to), and the greenies will certainly have a hissy fit over the environmental impact and carbon footprint of a supersonic toy.
It's long been speculated that the next supersonic passenger aircraft would be a business jet - this would seem to confirm that.
All that being said, I'll believe it when I see it. There are some major regulatory challenges (today's regulations are far removed from what Concorde was certified to), and the greenies will certainly have a hissy fit over the environmental impact and carbon footprint of a supersonic toy.
Last edited by tdracer; 18th Nov 2015 at 17:29.
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Every time I see a picture of the Aerion AS2 I think "Douglas X-3 Stilletto". The Stilleto configuration (long skinny fuselage with high polar moments and really short wings) had severe inertial coupling problems at high speeds. Joe Walker barely survived an inertial coupling episode in the X-3. How is Aerion overcoming this problem which is inherent to that configuration?
As the Air and Space Smithonian website says:
Every research aircraft poses a question. Sometimes the answer is "forget it."
The X-3 Stiletto | Air & Space Magazine
As the Air and Space Smithonian website says:
Every research aircraft poses a question. Sometimes the answer is "forget it."
The X-3 Stiletto | Air & Space Magazine
Last edited by KenV; 18th Nov 2015 at 17:57.
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We've had unstable aircraft with computer-controlled control surfaces for over 40 years, the inherent inertia coupling tendencies will be controlled by that same philosophy.
The X-3 was designed in the late 40s/early 50s and hence couldn't benefit from small lightweight digital computers because they were not developed until 15 or more years later.
Just read the remainder of the X-3 Wikipedia article. Quite sobering. 260kt take-off speed and +/-7g roll-coupled pitch oscillations on the flight where Joe Walker nearly lost control.
The X-3 was designed in the late 40s/early 50s and hence couldn't benefit from small lightweight digital computers because they were not developed until 15 or more years later.
Just read the remainder of the X-3 Wikipedia article. Quite sobering. 260kt take-off speed and +/-7g roll-coupled pitch oscillations on the flight where Joe Walker nearly lost control.
The Aerion is real enough - a friend of mine, one of my instructors, is a senior engineer on the project. Lots of interesting stories... (not to be repeated here I'm afraid).