Aircraft
Aerion’s Supersonic Ambitions Are Boosted by Airbus
Engineers from Aerion and Airbus are working together to advance development of the AS2 supersonic jet.
Toasting progress on Aerion’s AS2 program are, l-to-r, Doug Nichols, CEO; Robert Bass, chairman; John Holding, senior advisor; and Mike Hinderberger, program director of aircraft development.
Toasting progress on Aerion’s AS2 program are, l-to-r, Doug Nichols, CEO; Robert Bass, chairman; John Holding, senior advisor; and Mike Hinderberger, program director of aircraft development.

Aerion’s long-awaited AS2 supersonic business jet (SSBJ) program received a major boost last month when Airbus signed up for a partnership involving an exchange of knowledge and capabilities in design, manufacturing and certification. According to Aerion, the collaboration will support the Mach 1.6, $100+ million AS2 through to certification. Although the industrialization plan for the new jet has still to be confirmed, the Reno, Nev.-based group said that this will happen “over the course of the next year” and confirmed that it is no longer searching for a manufacturing partner.