When I was a child, the fastest commercial aircraft available was the Concorde, in 2003, Concorde was retired. Since then, supersonic passenger transport has been something of the past and of sci-fi novels. But, the passion for supersonic passenger aviation, has not died down, it has merely simmered, waiting to be reignited. Now, we have seen the re-ignition- two companies, Boom and Aerion, are in the process of developing their own supersonic passenger aircraft. We will cover Boom in the future, for today is Aerion’s turn, with their Aerion AS2 jet.
What is the Aerion AS2?
The Aerion AS2 will be the successor to the Concorde, however there are a few main changes from it’s father.
The Aerion AS2 will have 3 turbofan engines that propell the aircraft to speeds of 1.4 Mach according to the Aerion website; whereas, the Concorde had 4 afterburner engines and flew at 2.04 Mach, according to research. The AS2 will also be able to accept biofuels rather than blends that most aircraft are able to use. This is in contrast to the Concorde that could, and only would, accept Kerosene (jet fuel). According to both the Aerion website, and Flight Global’s research, the Aerion AS2 will be 100% carbon-neutral. However, this claim is refuted by other research by the AIAA, saying it is ‘An illusion’.
However, there will be one major difference between the Concorde and the Aerion, is that the AS2 will be primarily a business jet, seating 12 people. This is in contrast to the Concorde that was primarily a passenger aircraft for businessmen who had to attend meetings on the other side of the world.
How much will this cost, and what does it bring?
You’re probably thinking that the Aerion seems great! But, you’ll probably guess, that as one of the first of its kind, the AS2 will be monumentally expensive! The Aerion AS2 is set to cost a whopping $120 million according to Elite Traveler!
$120 million is equivalent to two G600’s with around $4 million left over! Aerion has currently not released all of the details of what will be provided with the purchase of the aircraft. Nevertheless, the Aerion website does give some vague information as to what the AS2 brings. In regards to the interior, the Aerion website states:
Cabin interiors and seating arrangements are designed to spec, they all feature a modern, minimalist visual language that matches the aerodynamic design of the AS2’s exterior.
By this, Aerion is stating, that the aircraft will be top of the line when the AS2 is first delivered to customers. Aerion also has some information regarding the seating onboard the aircraft:
Our plush recliner seats and sofas are crafted with the finest luxury materials for unmatched comfort in the air.
Aerion has, as of yet, not released detailed designsof the AS2 to the media in order to find what all the luxuries will be.
It is speculated that the AS2 will have a galley, perhaps a bedroom and maybe a shower.
The main selling point of the AS2 is that it is much larger than traditional business jets, such as the G650, and the fact that it is much faster than the traditional 0.95 Mach of other business jets.
The other major selling point is that whilst the Aerion AS2 is a supersonic jet, it is not a traditional supersonic jet. The Aerion AS2 has Sonic Boom dampeners, this is in the hopes that the AS2 will be permitted to travel across land, as the sonic booms don’t reach the ground.
When will we see the Aerion AS2 take to the skies?
As of the time of writing, the AS2 has no working prototype, however, it is hoped that one can be produced in 2021. Aerion hopes that the first aircraft can be certified and delivered for June 2023, to mark the 20th anniversary of the retirement of the Concorde. However analysts predict that the AS2 will not be delivered until 2025 at the earliest.
Will the Aerion AS2 be better than the Concorde?
In all honesty, that question will be hard to answer, whereas with other exciting jets, airlines place orders in for the jet, which is used as a sign of confidence, the same cannot be said for the AS2. The AS2 has only had a purchase of 20 by aircraft leasing company, Flexjet. This deal is reported to be worth $2.4 billion! FlexJet CEO, Kenn Ricci, has said that the AS2’s will be used for long-haul overseas flights and flights over China. China currently has no over-land sonic boom laws that are present in other countries.
But, it’s likely, in my own opinion, that the AS2 will be a successful aircraft, probably making Aerion, as the 747 did for Boeing. I believe that the success Aerion sees from the nostalgia of being able to fly more than the speed of sound, without being in a fighter jet, is worth the $120 million price tag! Most av geeks I have talked to, have talked to, especially those who were alive at the time of the Concorde’s inception, love the idea of a new Concorde.
From this nostalgia, I can see many other aircraft leasing companies and large corporations purchase the aircraft in order to once again feel the feeling at flying more than the speed of sound, once again. There was an old documentary I found, which talked about the Concorde, in it, an interviewee stated “(It) was a great feeling! I did a poo at Mach point two!”
We managed to reach out to the same interviewee, a man now in his 70’s, when we told him a new supersonic passenger aircraft was being developed (or rather two) he said on the matter “If I were younger, I’d buy myself a ticket, just for the feeling of it again!”
When we told him it was a business aircraft, and is unlikely (at this stage) to be used as a commercial aircraft, he was a little sad, saying “It was a great feeling, I can’t describe it any other way, I just hope one airline will turn this new aircraft (Aerion AS2) into a passengerliner…”
I hope you enjoyed this article, I certainly enjoyed the research for this article, in the future, we will cover the Boom, so there is a contrast between the two aircraft. Do you think that a major airline like BA or Air France will attempt to make a passenger version, or a freight version? Why or why not?