Three companies have expressed serious interest in developing a supersonic business jet (SSBJ), but none of the designs proposed by Aerion, Sukhoi or Supersonic Aerospace International has reached the launch stage, making it unlikely that any will emerge as a flying prototype anytime soon.
Still, the would-be SSBJ manufacturers have high hopes for the future. Aerion has performed aerodynamic tests of its wing design and also developed a way to fly efficiently at subsonic speeds over land. The research firm has designed a jet that promises to offer at Mach 1.5 a 4,000-nm NBAA IFR range similar to that achieved at a subsonic cruise speed of Mach 0.95. Operating expenses should range between those of a Global Express XRS and Boeing BBJ, the company claims. Interestingly, the Aerion’s proposed power comes from two ordinary and readily available Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219s delivering 19,600 pounds of thrust.
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