Supersonic business jet
{{short description|Type of business jet}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
File:Aerion SBJ Model.jpg project model]]
A supersonic business jet (SSBJ) is a business jet travelling above the speed of sound: a supersonic aircraft. Some manufacturers are designing or have been designing SSBJs, but none are currently available. Usually intended to transport about ten passengers, proposed SSBJs would be about the same size as subsonic business jets.
Only two commercial supersonic transports entered service: the Aérospatiale/British Aerospace Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. Both were designed with government subsidies and did not recoup development costs. They had high operating costs and high noise.
Some manufacturers believe these concerns can be addressed at a smaller scale, offering high speed transport for small groups of high-value passengers, executives or heads of state.
Current proposals include the Boom Overture and the Spike S-512.
Former proposals include the Aerion SBJ, Aerion AS2, HyperMach SonicStar, SAI Quiet Supersonic Transport, Sukhoi-Gulfstream S-21 and Tupolev Tu-444.
Several companies, including Gulfstream Aerospace, work on sonic booms-mitigation technologies like the Quiet Spike.
Timeline
In 1997, Dassault Aviation was considering a Mach 1.8 supersonic business jet powered by three non-afterburning engines derived from subsonic aircraft, with a cabin similar to the Falcon 50, capable of flying between Paris and New York.{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/dassault-aviation-plans-supersonic-business-jet/14221.article |title= Dassault Aviation plans supersonic business jet |magazine= Flight International |date= 1 October 1997}}
With a {{cvt|40|t|lb}} MTOW and over {{cvt|20|t|lb}} of fuel, it would cover a range of 7,200 km (4,500 nmi).{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/dassault-tests-viability-of-supersonic-business-jet/19914.article |title= Dassault tests viability of supersonic business jet |date= 27 February 1998 |work= Flightglobal}}
In September 2004, the European Commission selected the HISAC High Speed Aircraft program, launched with Dassault in 2005 and evaluating the feasibility of a small supersonic aircraft.{{cite web |url= https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/about-us/environmental-responsibility/research-and-the-future/ |title= Research and the future |publisher= Dassault Aviation |date= 2020}}
By 2019, Dassault was reserved about the prospects for a supersonic business jet.{{cite news |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-10-21/dassault-plots-future-models-smart-design |title= Dassault Plots Future Models with 'Smart Design' |author= Mark Phelps |date= October 21, 2019 |work= AIN online}}
In 2018, Vladimir Putin proposed a civil SSBJ variant of the Tu-160 bomber, for a potential market of 20-30 units in Russia alone at $100–120 million each.
UAC previously studied a SSBJ, displaying a scale model at MAKS Air Show 2017, to be designed and built in seven years with an existing engine like the NK-32 and a titanium airframe, a limited production would be worth an expected $150 million price.{{cite news |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-01-30/russia-flirts-ssbj-version-tu-160-bomber |title= Russia Flirts with SSBJ Version of Tu-160 Bomber |author= Vladimir Karnozov |date= January 30, 2018 |work= AINonline}}
In 2020, Virgin Galactic announced the design of a high speed delta wing aircraft for 9 to 19 people, targeting Mach 3 above {{cvt|60,000|feet}}, in partnership with Rolls-Royce plc for its propulsion.{{cite press release |url= https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactic-unveils-mach-3-aircraft-design-for-high-speed-travel-and-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-rolls-royce/ |date= Aug 3, 2020 |title= Virgin Galactic Unveils Mach 3 Aircraft Design for High Speed Travel, and Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-Royce |publisher= Virgin Galactic}}
In 2024, Boom Technology tested a subscale demonstrator Boom XB-1 "Baby Boom", achieving supersonic flight for the first time. Boom are currently developing this prototype into a full scale commercial aircraft, the Boom Overture.
Gallery
Image:Sukhoi Gulfstream S-21.jpg|S-21 3D model
See also
- Supersonic transport
- Supersonic aircraft
- {{annotated link|Environmental impact of aviation}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite news |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2004/09/27/daily11.html |title= Supersonic business jet announcement at NBAA |author= Ken Vandruf |work= Wichita Business Journal |date= September 27, 2004}}
- {{cite news |url= https://blogs.forbes.com/wheelsup/2010/06/17/the-supersonic-business-jet-why-are-we-still-not-privately-flying-at-mach-3/ |title= The Supersonic Business Jet: Why Are We Still Not Privately Flying at Mach 3? |author= Jeremy R.C. Cox |magazine= Forbes |date= Jun 17, 2010}}
- {{cite news |url= http://www.thenational.ae/business/industry-insights/aviation/age-of-supersonic-business-jet-nears |title= Age of supersonic business jet nears|author= David Black |date= November 4, 2012 |work= The National (Abu Dhabi)}}
- {{cite news |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/businessaviation/2013/08/02/hey-business-travelers-youre-supersonic-bizjet-may-be-taking-off-shortly/ |title= Your Supersonic BizJet May Be Taking Off Shortly |author= Mark Patiky |magazine= Forbes |date= August 2, 2013}}
- {{cite news |url= https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/forget-the-hyperloop-brace-for-supersonic-travel |title= Forget the Hyperloop, Brace for Supersonic Travel |author= Jennifer Booton |work= Fox Business |date= August 16, 2013}}
- {{cite news |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/ainsight-need-peed |title= AINsight: The Need for $peed |author= Matt Thurber |work= Aviation International News |date= June 25, 2018}}
- {{cite news |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-10-20/analysts-many-contenders-little-space-supersonics |title= Analysts: Many Contenders, but Little Space for Supersonics |author= Kerry Lynch |work= Aviation International News |date= October 20, 2020}}
{{Supersonic transport}}