Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

Aerion Supersonic wrapped up low- and high-speed wind tunnel testing for its redesigned Mach 1.4 AS2 business jet, accumulating the equivalent of 78,000 nm flown and hundreds of simulated flight hours at facilities in Europe and North America. The testing, along with digital modeling, enabled Aerion engineers to assess more than 200,000 data points to validate the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft and keep the program on target for component manufacturing to begin in 2022 and AS2 assembly in 2023.

 


The tests involved an evaluation of the full operational envelope of the AS2, including takeoff and landing, subsonic cruise, "boomless" supersonic cruise, and dive speed. In addition, the AS2 design was tested for operational conditions, including the deployment of landing gear and wing icing, along with handling qualities.

 


Aerion worked in conjunction with the French Office of National Aerospace Research in Modane, France, on <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-09-10/aerion-kicks-wind-tunnel-testing-as2">the high-speed testing</a>. This testing assessed stability and control at transonic and supersonic speeds over more than 1,000 cycles and the equivalent of 72,000 nm flown.

 


In combination with the wind tunnel testing, Aerion has conducted digital modeling through the use of aerodynamic optimization tools developed by its subsidiary, Aerion Technologies, in Palo Alto, California.

 


Calling the digital modeling and wind tunnel testing complementary, Aerion director of system test and evaluation Robert "Bob" Lewis said, “This testing is an important validation step in the development of the AS2, allowing us to collect a high volume of data in a short time through the full operational envelope of the aircraft to ensure our design exceeds performance expectations.”

 


According to Aerion, this combination eliminates a need for a demonstrator aircraft and accelerates the final stage of validation. “The conclusion of this phase of the development program is a major milestone for Aerion and the AS2,” explained Aerion chairman, president, and CEO Tom Vice. “In 2023, when we start manufacturing at Aerion Park [in Melbourne, Florida], the first AS2 we build will be a production-specification aircraft. This key phase of testing validates our aerodynamic assumptions and tells us that the AS2 will achieve all of our performance expectations and, in doing so, takes us a significant step closer to first flight.”

 


Plans call for Aerion to fly the aircraft in the 2025 timeframe, with certification and entry-into-service later in the decade.

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 Completes AS2 Wind Tunnel Testing

The completion of wind tunnel testing, along with digital modeling work, moves Aerion's AS2 supersonic jet closer to production.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

All-composite light jet will feature windowless cabin

Otto’s Phantom Bizjet Promises Midsize Performance and Comfort

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Manufacturer is exhibiting this week at Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo

Brazil ANAC Approves Ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700

Curt Epstein

The annual event featured hundreds of exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors

NBAA Northeast Regional Draws Crowds to White Plains

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Agreement calls for orders of up to 200 of Joby's four-passenger vehicles 

Saudi Group Agrees to be Distributor For Joby's eVTOL Aircraft

Amy Wilder

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.

AirVenture 2025 to host two of the company’s airships

Goodyear Blimp Celebrates a Century in Flight

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

First pilot-on-board flights featured conventional takeoffs and landings

Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Starts Piloted Test Flights

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

Aerion AS2

More In Aircraft

Otto’s Phantom Bizjet Promises Midsize Performance and Comfort

All-composite light jet will feature windowless cabin

Brazil ANAC Approves Ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700

Manufacturer is exhibiting this week at Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo

NBAA Northeast Regional Draws Crowds to White Plains

The annual event featured hundreds of exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors

Saudi Group Agrees to be Distributor For Joby's eVTOL Aircraft

Agreement calls for orders of up to 200 of Joby's four-passenger vehicles

Goodyear Blimp Celebrates a Century in Flight

AirVenture 2025 to host two of the company’s airships

Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Starts Piloted Test Flights

First pilot-on-board flights featured conventional takeoffs and landings

Pipistrel’s Velis Electro Is a Trailblazer for Electric Aviation

Textron subsidiary Pipistrel is the first manufacturer that has certified an electric aircraft.

Citation: Cessna’s Revolutionary Jet

Cessna’s original Citation broke new ground for small business jets

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN