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Supersonic Private Jet On The Horizon

Aerion Corp. brings its new designed private supersonic jet that could be flying within the next decade, to the Paris Air Show.
Chairman Robert Bass says there is market that would justify the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars needed for the design, development, and testing of a new supersonic jet.  "We did an extremely sophisticated study and the market is there at the prices we have quoted and the performance we have identified," Bass said.

The supersonic jet would hold 8-12 passengers and fly at speeds approaching 1,000 mph, making a flight from New York to Paris in a little over 4 hours. But with supersonic flight prohibited over the continental United States, Aerion’s proposed jet would fly just under the speed of sound at 650mph at 50,000 feet.  Making it still a viable option as compared to Cessna’s Citation X, which flies at about 600mph.

As for the cost of the new jet, Bass has proposed that the supersonic jet will run upwards to $80 million back in 2005, and believes the Aerion could sell 300 within the next 10 years.  Which would make the cost of developing and producing the jet well worth the worth it.

So far the only other commercial supersonic aircraft built was the Concorde jetliner, yet due to cost and an inefficient operating setup it was eventual retired.  Aerion isn’t worried about the failure of the Concorde, because their jet uses new technology and an updated design that is expected to overcome the drawbacks of the Concorde and
other proposed supersonic jets.

As for the design, the supersonic jet is built upon the research of Richard Tracy, chief technology officer of Aerion. With a new wing design created by Tracy that will help it cut through the air, and by making use the engine used on MD-80 passenger jets.  Aerion’s design is expected to be able to perform it’s supersonic flight because of its aerodynamic and lightweight design, and with nearly three years
of advanced engineering analyses, wind tunnel and other testing Aerion believes there are no major technological obstacles to building a supersonic jet.

To build the proposed jet, Aerion’s business plan calls for it to join with an existing aircraft manufacturer for the construction, testing and marketing of the jet.  Which is the reason for coming to the Paris Air show so they could rub elbows with potential partners along with potential customers.  Brian Barents, Vice Chairman,
believes they could find a partner sometime within the year.