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[ COVER STORY ]

and flight test resources, as well as strategic vertical content, to
bring Aerion’s AS2 supersonic business jet to market. The AS2 is
designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 1.4 or approximately 1,000
miles per hour. With the ability to fly up to 70 per cent faster than
Back to the on a transatlantic flight while meeting environmental performance
today’s business jets, the AS2 will save approximately three hours
requirements. The aircraft is slated for first flight in 2023.
Future “BOEING IS LEADING A MOBILITY

TRANSFORMATION THAT WILL SAFELY AND
EFFICIENTLY CONNECT THE WORLD FASTER THAN

EVER BEFORE,” said Steve Nordlund, vice president and gen-
eral manager of Boeing NeXt.
“THIS IS A STRATEGIC AND DISCIPLINED LEADING-
SUPERSONIC COMMERCIAL EDGE INVESTMENT IN FURTHER MATURING
TRAVEL IS ON THE HORIZON SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY. THROUGH THIS
PARTNERSHIP THAT COMBINES AERION’S
Jay Menon
SUPERSONIC EXPERTISE WITH BOEING’S GLOBAL
Since the grounding of the Concorde supersonic INDUSTRIAL SCALE AND COMMERCIAL AVIATION
jetliner in 2003 after 27 years of glamorous but EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM TO
fiscally strained service, supersonic travel could BUILD THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE SUPERSONIC
once again become a reality with a batch of FLIGHT.”
new passenger-carrying aircraft currently in

the later stages of development. Early this year, Founded in 2003 to develop new, more efficient aerodynamic
Aerion, a Nevada based company pioneering technologies for supersonic aircraft, Aerion introduced its AS2
next-generation supersonic aircraft announced 12-passenger business jet design in 2014. The company unveiled
a partnership with Boeing. As part of the agree- the AS2’s GE Affinity supersonic engine design in 2018. “Aerion is
ment, Boeing made a significant investment in the industry leader mapping out a successful, sustainable return
Aerion to accelerate technology development to supersonic flight,” said Tom Vice, chairman, president and chief
and aircraft design, and unlock supersonic air executive officer of Aerion. “The AS2 is the launch point for the
travel for new markets. future of regulatory-compliant and efficient supersonic flight.
Together with Boeing, we’re creating a faster, more connected
Back to Supersonic future with tremendous possibilities for enhancing humanity’s pro-
Boeing is providing engineering, manufacturing ductivity and potential.”

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