Aerion AS2

AS2
Role	Supersonic business jet
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Aerion
Developed from	Aerion SBJ

The Aerion AS2 is a supersonic business jet designed by Aerion Corporation in collaboration with Airbus, scheduled to enter service in 2023.

Aerion announced at the May 2014 EBACE that it is redesigning its previous Aerion SBJ with a larger cabin, more range and three yet unspecified engines for a $100 million-plus target price, it aims to fly a prototype in late 2018 / early 2019 and certify the plane in 2021. The unit cost was predicted to be US$120 million at the May 2015 EBACE.

The AS2 will fly at a speed of Mach 1.5, using supersonic laminar flow technology, and the wing design will allow for lower fuel consumption and increased travel ranges by reducing aerodynamic drag by 20%. The cabin is designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers.NASA has issued a contract to model supersonic boom on ground. New noise regulations coming in 2020 caused Aerion to change the design from two to three engines.

In November 2015, Flexjet confirmed that they had placed a firm order valued at $2.4 billion for twenty Aerion AS2s, with delivery to begin in 2023. Flexjet CEO Kenn Ricci said the company would use the supersonic jet for overseas flights and also in China, which does not have restrictions on sonic booms. Ricci noted that, with the aircraft traveling at Mach 1.2, its boom would not reach the ground, possibly allowing regulators to permit supersonic flight over land. Flexjet, owned by Directional Aviation Capital, offers customers fractional ownership of aircraft, rather than outright purchase.

Data from Aerion

General characteristics

Performance

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