AERION SUPERSONIC







AERION SUPERSONIC: THE FIRST AIRCRAFT IN HISTORY TO FLY SUPERSONIC WITHOUT A BOOM REACHING THE GROUND


ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS, RISK TAKERS, AND PIONEERS

The mindset of a startup with decades of research and experience underneath us.


Aerion Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Reno, Nevada. It was founded by Robert Bass of Fort Worth. From 2004 until 2021, the company had been developing a 10-passengercsupersonic jet to cut transatlantic flights by three hours using "boomless cruise" technology to negate the sonic boom. It was expected to be the first supersonic aircraft without an afterburner to lower emissions, and the first to run on biofuels.


SPEED
  • Mach 1.4 Supersonic cruising speed
  • 4,200NM Supersonic range
  • 0.95 Mach Subsonic cruising speed
  • 5,400NM Subsonic range

LUXURY

A PERFECT INTEGRATION OF FUTURE TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

  • Sustainable Luxury Design
  • Aerion Proprietary Seating
  • WhisperQuiet™ Cabin and Purity™ Climate Control
  • High-Speed Connectivity and Immersive Environment
  • Integrated Digital Lifestyle with Instinctive User Interface
  • Full Spectrum OLED Lighting
  • Complete Kitchen Functionality with Advanced Appliance Suite


General Specification:

Crew: 2

Capacity: up to 12 passengers

Length: 148.3 ft (45.2 m)

Wingspan: 64.2 ft (19.6 m)

Height: 23.3 ft (7.1 m)

Wing area: 1,200 sq ft (110 m2)

Empty weight: 45,100 lb (20,457 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 90,000 lb (40,823 kg)

Fuel capacity: 45,400

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6

Range: 4,200 NM

History


2003

Aerion Corporation was founded in 2003 by Texas billionaire Robert Bass as a startup working to commercialize supersonic aviation technology. 


2004

The company began development on supersonic business jets in 2004.


2011

Increased demand from a variety of aircraft manufacturers for Aerion’s natural laminar flow (NLF) expertise drove the company to launch Aerion Technologies Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, in May 2011. Aerion stated that the same proprietary technologies and design tools that enable a practical supersonic business jet also have subsonic and transonic applications. During the previous 10 years, Aerion had developed extensive NLF test data and methods for optimizing its application to aircraft design, as well as assuring practical manufacturing and operational use. Aerion Technologies’ NLF technology and design tools may also help airframe builders improve speed and efficiency limits for next-generation civil and military aircraft.

2019

Announces partnership between Boeing and Aerion.


2020

In April 2020, the company announced the construction of a $375 million production facility at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport and the relocation of its headquarters to the Aerion Park campus, with the hopes of the first commercial delivery of planes by 2027. Aerion began development on carbon neutral capabilities for its AS2 jet through direct air capture in a 2020 deal with Carbon Engineering. In July 2020, Aerion partnered with Jetex to establish travel arrangements for AS2 passengers.


2021

On May 21, at the time of its collapse, the company had 93 orders for the AS2 aircraft at a price of US$120m, a backlog of $11.2bn. Aerion had only a fraction of the US$4bn it estimated would be needed to complete certification and commence production. The company said the customer deposits would be returned.


In June 2021, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun explained why that company stopped supporting Aerion, stating that he asked, "is it going to be big enough and meaningful enough to Boeing? And maybe not just in terms of share of market and service market but also in terms of return on capital? And does it bring any technology to our existing core business? And if it doesn't, then it's got to really stand on its own, And our decision on supersonic was that it didn't.”


UNFORTUNATELY Aerion abruptly announced on May 21, 2021 that the company would be shutting down due to inability to raise needed capital to proceed.


Source: aerocorner, wikipedia; aerionsupersonic.com/

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