The New Concorde? Plans Unveiled for the World’s Fastest Supersonic Jet

Have you ever dreamed of flying from New York to London in just three hours? That dream may become a reality with the development of what will be the world’s fastest business jet.

The U.S.-based Aerospace firm Aerion, is partnering with Airbus to create a business jet that will fly at 1,217 mph. The Aerion AS2 is a Mach 1.6 supersonic business jet, and uses a laminar flow wing to achieve its amazing speed.

Over water, the AS2 will cruise at speeds between Mach 1.4 and 1.6, which is twice as fast as today’s civil jets. That will get you from New York to London in three hours, or from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just six.

We haven’t seen velocity like this since the Concorde, which traveled at 1,350 mph and was able to make it from New York City to London in just three hours. That supersonic jet was retired in 2003 after seeing a decrease in passengers.

Supersonic speed is prohibited over the United States, so the AS2 will also have the ability to fly at just under the speed of sound, or around 754 mph.

The AS2 is the product of more than a decade of research, and Aerion even tested the laminar flow airfoils with NASA. The technology reduces airframe drag by 20 percent, therefore allowing for lower fuel consumption and longer range. And the AS2 will be able to go the distance. The jet will be able to fly more than 5,450 statute miles, meaning that it can connect cities like London and Seattle or San Francisco and Toyko with a nonstop flight.

The projected price tag for the AS2 hovers around $100 million. Aerion hopes to begin test flights by 2019.

I approve of this Airline! Passes inspection with me! When is my first complimentary flight from NY to London to Tokyo??

SOURCE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/23332/the-return-of-supersonic-flight.html

Jay Sean 2012