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Wanna fly a Concorde? Flexjet orders SSBJs

Old 11-17-2015, 05:57 PM
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Default Wanna fly a Concorde? Flexjet orders SSBJs

This would be fantastic if it comes to fruition. 20 Supersonic business jets on order... Take that Warren Buffett!!!!!!

Flexjet Boosts Supersonic Bizjet Plan with Aerion AS2 Order | Business Aviation News: Aviation International News

Check out the picture of the airplane:

http://www.ainonline.com/sites/defau...xjet-01_lr.jpg
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Old 11-17-2015, 06:01 PM
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Default In other Flexjet news....

Flexjet Signs Deal for 20 Challenger 350s Fractional ownership provider Flexjet signed a memorandum of understanding today with Bombardier Business Aircraft for the purchase of 20 Challenger 350 super-midsize business jets. The $533 million deal makes the Texas-based fractional-share provider one of the largest operators of the 300-series aircraft, and it already has more than 40 in service.

Mike Silvestro, CEO of Flexjet, commented, “I couldn’t be more excited about this announcement. Flexjet first took delivery of its first Challenger 300 in 2003, and since then it has been the mainstay of our fleet. Back then I think Bombardier did a phenomenal job creating this great super-midsize cabin aircraft, and many years later with the Challenger 350 they have continued to define and set the standard for excellence for this category.”

The Flexjet Challenger 350s will become a part of FlexJet’s new Red Label offering, “which enhances the experience for our customers,” explained Silvestro. These aircraft “will have dedicated crews who fly specific N-number aircraft and special LXI phenomenal interiors [including hand-stitched leather seating]. And we are committed to using only aircraft that are five years old or younger,” he added.
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Old 11-17-2015, 06:11 PM
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big day for Flex!
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Old 11-17-2015, 06:51 PM
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The cabin is not particularly large - I think double club. But then again you will spend less time in the airplane due to the speed. Obviously early in the design phase, I like the early cabin design options:

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Old 11-17-2015, 06:55 PM
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Or this one:

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Old 11-17-2015, 08:58 PM
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$100.00 it is not on a ramp anywhere in the world in the next 10 years...or I will even go 20
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Old 11-17-2015, 10:30 PM
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or that it even needs pilots
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Old 11-18-2015, 02:21 AM
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I'm NJA ,bravo to the FLEX guys , I hope we all get SSBJ's, going from paper to actually cutting tin will be daunting, but what a wonderful thing if it occurs.
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Old 11-18-2015, 05:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Junglejett View Post
$100.00 it is not on a ramp anywhere in the world in the next 10 years...or I will even go 20
I can't think of a better way to sell this airplane to loaded customers than through fractions. Certainly doesn't hurt now that a legit operator like Flexjet put down a non-refundable deposit. Plus, doesn't Airbus now work with Aerion?
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Old 11-18-2015, 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by David Puddy View Post
I can't think of a better way to sell this airplane to loaded customers than through fractions. Certainly doesn't hurt now that a legit operator like Flexjet put down a non-refundable deposit. Plus, doesn't Airbus now work with Aerion?
Who knows if it will actually come to fruition but it would be great if it does. Kudos to Flexjet for taking the lead on an airplane that clearly works as a fractional airplane.

Here is an Aviation Week article from September talking about the Airbus/Aerion link:




Airbus is to help start-up Aerion with design, manufacture and certification of a supersonic business jet, aiming for availability of the $100 million-plus aircraft in 2021.

Reno, Nevada-based Aerion says the engineering collaboration with Airbus Defense & Space Group “marks a huge leap forward to being a program that will result in an aircraft that will be on the market in the not too distant future.”

“Both companies have made a substantial commitment of resources,” says Aerion CEO Doug Nichols, while declining to provide details of the commercial agreement. “We have an agreement to share resources,” says Airbus.

Airbus will locate senior engineering staff with the Aerion design team in Reno to provide expertise in aerodynamics, structures, fly-by-wire flight controls and certification planning. “They will cover the full spectrum of technical and industrial disciplines needed,” says Nichols.

The size of the Airbus team has yet to be defined, but most will come from the military aircraft division, says the European manufacturer. Nichols says Aerion’s engineering workload will ramp up beginning in 2016.

“Aerion’s technology is of interest to Airbus, and this agreement provides Aerion with access to Airbus Group skills in disciplines that will move the program solidly towards commercialization,” he says. A market survey early this year showed a market for more than 600 aircraft over 20 years.

Aerion was formed in 2002 to develop aircraft using supersonic natural laminar flow technology, pioneered by Dr Richard Tracy, and able to cruise more efficiently at supersonic and subsonic speeds.

The aircraft has two cruise design points where range and efficiency are at a maximum: Mach 1.4 for flight over water, and over land where supersonic flight is permitted; and Mach 0.95 where supersonic flight over land is prohibited.

In countries where civil supersonic flight over land is permitted as long as there is no adverse sonic boom, the AS2 will be able to cruise at up to Mach 1.15-1.2 without the boom reaching the ground, Nichols says.

In March, Aerion switched to a larger three-engined design, the AS2, providing a range of at least 4,750 nm at Mach 1.6. and enabling the aircraft to meet lower Stage 5/Chapter 14 noise limits that take effect from 2018 for new designs.

Three engines, versus the two Pratt & Whitney JT8Dsin the original design, mean each engine operates at less than full thrust for takeoff, for lower noise, while providing longer overhaul life and greater hot-and-high performance margin.

Nichols says Aerion is now in the advanced design phase and focused on working with engine manufacturers to identify a core on which to develop an optimized low-bypass turbofan able to meet the supersonic life requirements.

“That is the major piece that is taking all of our attention, selecting a propulsion system that meets the needs of the aircraft,” he says. After that, the next steps will be selecting Tier 1 suppliers for systems and structures.

Since its formation, the company has been looking for an OEM to help develop and build, market and support its design. Nichols says the plan now is “this will be an Aerion program, with the substantial involvement of major industrial partners."

“Airbus Group brings all the necessary ingredients to move the aircraft out of development and into full-up commercialization,” he says. “There will be other participants, including the engine manufacturer and other major Tier 1s."

“We view this as the beginning of a broad industrial partnership, clearly led by Aerion, but with a deep commitment from Airbus and others,” Nichols says.

Financing is secured for the overall development program, which calls for a first flight in 2019 and certification in 2021, he says. “We are at the point in the program where we have, or will have shortly, all the essential pieces to close the equation.”

Graham Warwick,
[email protected]
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