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THE INVESTOR
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AIR TRAVEL
No fewer than five separate
supersonic projects are under way,
involving start-ups, large aerospace
companies and organisations such as
NASA. For example, in collaboration
with Airbus Group, Aerion has begun
work on a 20-seater business jet that
is due to fly in four years’ time.The
company estimates that the worldwide
market for supersonic business jets
could total 600 aircraft over 20 years;
and a new era of interest in supersonic
travel could make more efficient
designs for larger supersonic airliners
economically feasible.
For its part, Boston-based Spike
Aerospace is pushing ahead with a
luxurious 18-passenger aircraft.
Instead of portholes, the cabin will
feature panoramic screens fed by
cameras that surround the aircraft.
Sources: 1 data.worldbank.org, January 2016, 2 journalistsresource.org. March 2017; 3 airwaysmag.com, January 2017
A newera of interest
in supersonic travel
couldmake larger
supersonic airliners
economically feasible
So is a new spirit ready to sweep
through this staid industry? For the
first time in decades the answer may
be ‘yes’. Many of the factors behind
this are familiar: new or maturing
technologies, ever-growing demand
for travel, and so on. But there is also
a new ingredient: the arrival of Silicon
Valley types with vision and generous
cash reserves.
The new source of funding is key.
Alexis Grabar, Chief Executive of
consultancy AviaMediaTech, says:
‘I expect the funding to flow from
that small group of people who are
passionate about these projects and
have the money. Few other sources –
private equity, for example – have
much appetite since the period [of
investment] of at least five to ten years
is simply too long to them.’
BUSINESS CLASS
The AS2 supersonic jet is due
to go into mainstream service
in five years’ time
ART AND CRAFT
Cabin and cockpit designs are
pushing back the boundaries
SPEED DEMON
The AS2 supersonic business jet
has been designed by Aerion in
collaboration with Airbus
POINT AND SHOOT
Views from Spike Aerospace’s
18-passenger jet will be via
cameras, not windows
There is a welter of audacious ideas,
including passenger drones. But two
discrete streams of innovation stand
out: a new generation of supersonic
airliners and small-scale urban craft
rather like the once-derided flying
cars. Of the two, the supersonic
aircraft is the more mainstream.