Does BizAv STILL Have An SSBJ In Its Future???

Among the doldrums that dominate the BizAv sector these days, its hard to get folks to look to the future... and by the time that the economy starts improving, we have a feeling that the industry will have a heckuva job catching up to the potential of a renewed market ready to do business. UNLESS... you happen to be Aerion.

Aerion is an intriguing and forward-thinking company formed for the purpose of developing and commercializing a fundamental breakthrough in supersonic transportation, i.e, a SuperSonic Business Jet. Aerion has already earned patents on several concepts related to supersonic aerodynamics and structures, including patents on its supersonic natural laminar flow wing design.

These folks seem up to the task... Prior to the formation of Aerion, its founders received several DARPA contracts for supersonic laminar flow wing studies, as well as research and test flights. This group also participated in DARPA’s Quiet Supersonic Platform Program. A team of closely affiliated firms, including Pratt & Whitney, provide engineering design and analysis support in the following areas: aerodynamics, structures, systems, propulsion, stability and control, and aeroelasticity.

The Aerion jet will be fuel efficient at cruise speeds just below the speed of sound, allowing it to perform short- and long-haul overland missions with the same economies as today’s large business jets. Range at high subsonic speed is more than 4500 nm and range at supersonic speeds exceeds 4000 nm.

Over certain national or regional corridors, including parts of Canada, Australia and Siberia, the aircraft can fly at unrestricted speeds up to its maximum speed of Mach 1.6. And in other regions governed by ICAO regulations, the aircraft is capable of operating at boomless cruise speeds up to Mach 1.15. The Aerion can cruise efficiently, however, at speeds from .95 to .99 Mach over the continental US, where speeds are limited by regulation to less than Mach.

FMI: www.aerioncorp.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews