Senior Editor

Jerry Siebenmark

Airbus and Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems will collaborate with Aerion Corp. on the preliminary design of the forward pressurized fuselage of the AS2 supersonic jet, the companies announced today. Wichita-based Spirit—which manufactures the forward fuselage of all in-production Boeing jetliners, including the composite 787 Dreamliner—said it expects to immediately begin preliminary development.

 


“Joining a project team this early allows us to apply our technical expertise and commercial best practices to make the most positive impact,” Spirit president and CEO Tom Gentile said. “We can create cost-efficient, innovative engineering solutions that take into account Spirit’s highly efficient manufacturing processes.”

 


Aerion’s 12-passenger, Mach 1.4 trijet program has seen an uptick in development announcements in recent months, including the Reno, Nevada-based company’s selection of <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-10-15/aerion-unveils-stage-5-ge-affinity-engine-supersonic-as2">GE Aviation’s</a> new Affinity engine as the airplane’s powerplant at NBAA 2018 in October, followed by the February 5 announcement of its partnership with <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-02-05/boeing-partners-aerion-bets-big-supersonics">Boeing</a>, including a “significant” investment in the program by the Seattle airframer. Aerion expects to begin flight testing the AS2 in 2023.

 


“They are a leader in composite structures and we are excited that they have joined the team,” Aerion CEO Tom Vice said of the Spirit partnership.

 


Spirit’s experience in composite fuselages extends beyond the 787 to include manufacture of those for Lockheed Martin Sikorsky’s CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter and Bell’s V-280 tiltrotor for the Army’s Future Vertical Lift program.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Aerion Names Spirit Fuselage Partner on AS2 

Spirt AeroSystems currently manufactures composite forward and full fuselages for the Boeing 787 and Lockheed Martin Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter.

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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