Accelerating supersonic travel is goal of Boeing, Aerion partnership
NewsFebruary 13, 2019
CHICAGO. Boeing and Aerion are partnering to accelerate advancements in supersonic travel, officials announce.
As part of the agreement, Boeing made a significant investment in Aerion, a Reno, Nevada-based company pioneering next-generation supersonic aircraft, to accelerate technology development and aircraft design, and unlock supersonic air travel for new markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Boeing will provide engineering, manufacturing, and flight test resources, as well as strategic vertical content, to bring Aerion's AS2 supersonic business jet to market. The AS2 is designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 1.4 or approximately 1,000 miles per hour.
With the ability to fly up to 70 percent faster than today's business jets, the AS2 will save approximately three hours on a transatlantic flight while meeting environmental performance requirements. The aircraft is slated for first flight in 2023.
Founded in 2003 to develop new, more efficient aerodynamic technologies for supersonic aircraft, Aerion introduced its AS2 12-passenger business jet design in 2014. The company unveiled the AS2's GE Affinity engine design in 2018.
