A faster future
Nevada based Aerion Corporation has chosen Dubai’s biennial airshow to consolidate its commitment to becoming first to market a supersonic business jet.
Aerion Vice Chairman Brian Barents says that following its launch at Dubai two years ago, Aerion now holds “about 50” letters of intent to purchase the US$80 million jet
, each backed by a $250,000 refundable deposit, representing a backlog of $4 billion. Nearly a quarter of orders are from customers in the Middle East, India and Pakistan, with the remainder distributed between Europe and the Americas.
Explaining why Aerion expects to be first to market Barents commented:
“While some companies are committed to quiet supersonic designs requiring regulatory changes, others understand that Aerion technology offers the only practical path back to supersonic flight. We are not waiting around for rules to change, which could be a very long wait; we are moving forward with proven technology.” Only in the U.S. are flights restricted to speeds below Mach 1.
Aerion Senior Advisor John Holding explained why Aerion represented the one feasible solution for reintroducing supersonic flight.
“Supersonic natural laminar flow (SNLF)—Aerion’s key enabling technology—is well proven at this point. There are no barriers to success. Technical risks are low, and the development of the jet is well within the capability of several manufacturers.
“The Aerion jet is compliant with Stage 4 [noise] regulations and the latest emissions standards. Its fuel consumption and emissions are far below any other proposed supersonic jet, making it the most environmentally responsible choice. It can operate from the same general aviation airports as long-range business jets do today and for a comparable operating cost.
“It is therefore clear to us and to the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) with whom we are in discussions that the Aerion jet is the only practical path to supersonic flight by the middle of the next decade.”
Aerion, which is an advanced aeronautical research organisation, requires the participation of a large OEM skilled in bringing new aircraft to market. It is in discussions aimed at entering into a 9-12 month technical assessment phase, during which Aerion and its partner or partners will jointly study all aspects of taking Aerion’s aerodynamic design through a successful certification effort. Aerion expects that this phase will culminate with the launch of a five-year development and certification program.
“We’ve had the ability to fly supersonically for 60 percent of the history of powered flight,” said Holding. “Now we have the opportunity to do it in a commercially feasible, environmentally responsible way. As the industry returns to financial stability and as optimism returns, we will see the Aerion program progress rapidly.”
Barents added, “We have consistently found strong interest in supersonic transport here at the Dubai Air Show, and so we are here again to tell business jet operators that they will soon be able to embrace a faster future.”
Aerion says its jet can fly efficiently at speeds just below the speed of sound (.95 to .99 Mach) where necessary, and at Mach 1.6 elsewhere.
No-boom supersonic flight is possible because of the lower speed of sound at altitude (574 knots at standard atmospheric conditions) than on the ground (660 knots at standard conditions) due to the lower temperatures at altitude. Because of the temperature gradient, booms generated at low supersonic cruise dissipate before reaching the ground.
New York to Paris flights will be reduced to four hours and 15 minutes compared with about seven and a half hours in existing subsonic models. The SBJ will fly coast to coast U.S. at speeds up to .99 Mach in less than four hours. Range at high subsonic speed is more than 4,500 nautical miles and range at supersonic speeds exceeds 4,000 nautical miles.
As a result of its straight wing design and full span flaps, end-of-mission approach speed will be 120 knots and the aircraft will be able to fly maximum range flights from business airports with 6,000-foot runways, or even shorter runways when fueled for shorter missions.
Aerion’s design philosophy is to utilise demonstrated technologies and to minimise complexity. The SBJ therefore is designed to cruise efficiently at or below 51,000 feet, its certification limit. The wings will be constructed of carbon fiber composites for low weight at the required level of stiffness, employing construction methods and materials common on fighters and on recent civil aircraft. The aircraft’s top speed of Mach 1.6 eliminates the requirement for special high-temperature materials.
Cabin size will be comparable to today’s super-midsize business jets. The flat-floor cabin height is over six feet and the cabin can accommodate 8 to 12 passengers in a variety of configurations.
The SBJ will be powered by the latest generation of the well-proven and ubiquitous JT8D engine. A derivative of the existing JT8D-200 series engine, de-rated to 19,600 pounds thrust, will provide the performance needed for sustained cruise at speeds up to Mach 1.6 without afterburners.
The use of a JT8D derivative reduces technical risks, time to market and the cost of developing a new engine. This engine provides precisely the thrust and bypass ratio needed for efficient supersonic and subsonic performance.
Investor and customer confidence is supported by Aerion’s high-powered board, which includes:
- Robert M. Bass, Chairman of Aerion and President of investment group Keystone Group, LP;
- Brian E. Barents, Vice Chairman of Aerion and former president and CEO of Galaxy Aerospace and Learjet;
- Dr. Richard R. Tracy, who has pioneered the supersonic natural laminar wing concept and serves as Aerion’s Chief Technology Officer;
- Michael L. Henderson, COO of Aerion and Boeing’s former program manager for high-speed civil transport;
- Robert Morse, a Partner at Oak Hill Capital Management; and
- James Stewart, CFO at SR Technics.
- John Holding, previously Bombardier Aerospace’s Executive Vice President, Integrated Product Definition and Planning, is Senior Advisor to the company.
