Super-fast jet travel poised for comeback

Boeing is partnering with Nevada-based startup Aerion Corporation to develop a business jet that promises to bring back the luxury of supersonic air travel for the first time since Concorde retired in 2003

AERION AS2 
 AS2

Airframe: Built largely of carbon fibre composites for low weight, high strength and wing stiffness

Cabin: 8-12 passengers. Height of aft cabin is 1.88m – just 8cm less than Concorde

Engines: Three GE Affinity turbofans, 80kN (18,000-lb) thrust each. Reduced sonic boom due to fuselage design

AS2 SPECIFICATIONS
Max. speed Mach 1.4 (1,728km/h) – Concorde speed Mach 2
Max. range  9,816km
Max. cruise altitude 15,545m
Max. take-off weight 54,884kg
First flight due 2023

AS2 designed to be up to 70 percent faster than today’s quickest business jets

Aircraft to scale
Concorde

61.7m
51.8m
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Travel time saved from New York to: 
Tokyo: 1hr 57mins
Sydney: 4hrs 23mins
São Paulo: 2hrs 9mins
London: 1hr 55mins
Dubai: 2hrs 23mins

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Sources: Aerion Corp., Aviation Week, Bloomberg
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