Superfast Business Jet

[marki]

[h=1]Superfast Business Jet Moves Ahead[/h][h=2]Aerion lining up customers for $120 million plane that can cross the Atlantic in 4½ hours[/h]
Just how valuable is two hours and change to hurried corporate executives or the ultrarich? Aerospace executive Doug Nicholsreckons the answer could be pushing $120 million.
The former Boeing Co. executive spent seven years developing a supersonic business jet that aims to fill the void created when the Concorde quit flying in 2003. He is targeting those who absolutely need to fly from London to New York in 4½ hours rather than seven.
Aerion Corp., where Mr. Nichols is chief executive, has the most advanced of several similar projects. It recently secured orders for its planned 12-passenger AS2 jet. For the $120 million price, a buyer can go 4,750 nautical miles at up to 1.5 times the speed of sound.
Before it can achieve its goals of first flight in 2021 and service two years later, Aerion needs to overcome long-held skepticism among business-jet financiers and plane makers about the viability of supersonic jets and convince prospective buyers and regulators of their merits.

 

[Deleted member]

I suspect, the mega wealthy might want one as a private jet, but not sure I can see a viable regular service working here.
I seem to recall an airline that was or planned to operate between New York, London and (I think) Dubai. All J or all F configuration, does anyone know if it happened?

 

[straitman]

Mach 1.5 seems rather underwhelming to me.

 

[lukeyh13]

Hefty price tag to save two hours!

 

[marki]

The biggest hurdle remains a ban on commercial jets flying at supersonic speeds over the continental U.S. Other countries also require ultrafast planes to spend as much time as possible over the ocean to avoid the distinctive boom when they exceed the speed of sound. The straightest route is not necessarily the fastest route,” flight plans the AS2 would have to take to skirt the U.S. and Canadian coasts and link London and New York while shaving 2½ hours over a conventional business jet flying a more direct route at close to the speed of sou

 

[opusman]

I remember reading that a lot of theoretical modelling of leading edge design has been done to minimize the "boom" as much as possible, it wouldn't surprise me if this jet is a lot quieter than Concorde was.

 

[marki]

Aerodynamic laws require that supersonic planes be long and thin, and the existing AS2 is 170-feet long and has a maximum takeoff weight of 121,000 pounds, limiting its use to popular close-in airports such as Teterboro in New Jersey. A favorite gateway for Wall Street’s high-fliers.
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A shock wave drags a tremendous amount of air along with it, thus increasing aerodynamic drag. It is as though you hitched a 5000 kg trailer with it's break on to your car if you exceeded 60 mph.

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I can't see many billionaires who would choose this class of aircraft just to shave off a couple of travel hours. Most conduct business in their flights anyhow.​

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[medhead]

Interesting. Lets say someone wants a 10% return on investment - $12000000. Say a return journey per day/ 7 days a week (ignoring that Saturday might not be too popular) say 50 weeks a year. 700 segments with 12 seats. 8400 seats annually. To make the $12,000,000 that's $1500 per seat. Wild guest to get a charge of $20000 each way.

Would there be enough people whose time costs > $10000 per hour to fill 8400 seats every year? (crossing the atlantic)

 

[dmitri]

I suspect, the mega wealthy might want one as a private jet, but not sure I can see a viable regular service working here.
I seem to recall an airline that was or planned to operate between New York, London and (I think) Dubai. All J or all F configuration, does anyone know if it happened?

Here it is GPH- https://www.lacompagnie.com/en/choose-departure

 

[docjames]

Interesting. Lets say someone wants a 10% return on investment - $12000000. Say a return journey per day/ 7 days a week (ignoring that Saturday might not be too popular) say 50 weeks a year. 700 segments with 12 seats. 8400 seats annually. To make the $12,000,000 that's $1500 per seat. Wild guest to get a charge of $20000 each way.

Would there be enough people whose time costs > $10000 per hour to fill 8400 seats every year? (crossing the atlantic)

That's just on the purchase cost, never mind fuel, crew, maintenance etc ......

 

[medhead]

That's just on the purchase cost, never mind fuel, crew, maintenance etc ......

That would be the reason for the wild guest of $20000.