NetJets Secures Options For 20 Supersonic Bizjets

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NetJets has signed an agreement with supersonic aircraft developer Aerion that includes purchase options for 20 Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. According to Aerion, the deal brings the value of its order backlog to approximately $10 billion. The company also announced plans to collaborate with aviation training provider FlightSafety International to develop a flight training academy for supersonic civil, commercial and military aircraft.

“Our strategy is to connect the very best partners in the world within a new mobility ecosystem optimized for speed and founded on sustainability,” said Aerion CEO Tom Vice. “In NetJets and FlightSafety International we have two such partners; both globally recognized leaders in their fields who share our passion for a new era of mobility that is both fast and at the same time kind to our planet.”

Aerion’s AS2 is expected to have a top speed of Mach 1.4 and supersonic range of 4200 NM. It will be powered by GE’s new Affinity engine and outfitted with an avionics suite that is being developed in partnership with Honeywell. As previously reported by AVweb, Aerion is aiming to begin AS2 production in 2023 at its planned facility in Melbourne, Florida.

Kate O'Connor
Kate O’Connor works as AVweb's Editor-in-Chief. She is a private pilot, certificated aircraft dispatcher, and graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. OK that’s it. Putting an eco-friendly label on a supersonic jet is beyond absurd; that’s a Joe Isuzu level of lying.

  2. Have they figured out how to solve the sonic boom issue yet? Else it’s just flying over water isn’t it?

    • NASA’s helping develop “Boomless Cruise” – the boom won’t reach the ground apparently.

  3. Has the beast flown yet?

    2023 seems optimistic for a new design.

    (Note it is fast but not as fast as Concorde, and Boom’s design is intended to be a bit faster yet (at the cusp of a sharp drop in efficiency.
    Pax capacity is not as different as might be assumed from figures, as Boom’s airliner probably has higher density seating on the theory that flights are relatively short).

    • Clarifying:
      Boom plans to be a bit faster than the Concorde.

      Sonic boom, materials for higher temperatures, and engines are considerations in choosing speed. Boom is going for maximum, business plan not based on overland flying. (Boom’s demonstrator may be in part intended to prove out engine inlets for the speed. It is not faithful overall to the envisioned end product.)

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