In February 2019, Aerion announced a partnership with Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company. The two organizations share a common vision of a sustainable, environmentally responsible supersonic future. Together they are developing the AS2 as the first step to unlocking supersonic air travel for new markets. Boeing and Aerion engineers are working together on the AS2 design, with Boeing providing financial, engineering, manufacturing, and flight-test resources to Aerion. “Together with Boeing, we’re creating a faster, more connected future with tremendous possibilities for enhancing humanity’s productivity and potential,” according to Aerion Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Vice.

Aerion and GE unveiled the AS2’s AffinityTM supersonic engine in 2018, a new turbofan optimized with proven GE technology for supersonic flight. The Affinity is a new class of medium-bypass-ratio engines. It provides exceptional and balanced performance across subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds.

GE’s Affinity is a twin-shaft, twin-fan powerplant controlled by a next-generation full authority digital engine control (FADEC) for enhanced dispatch reliability and onboard diagnostics. It is designed to enable efficient supersonic flight over water and efficient subsonic flight over land without requiring modifications to existing regulations. The engine is designed to meet today’s stringent subsonic LTO noise levels and exceed all current supersonic and most subsonic emission levels.

Aerion and Spirit AeroSystems announced in February 2019 an agreement for the preliminary design of the AS2’s forward, pressurized fuselage. Spirit AeroSystems is a recognized industry leader in advanced composite manufacturing. Spirit offers proven knowledge and experience to adapt composite materials for use in fuselages, nacelles, and wing structures. It builds major composite structures for the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787.

Aerion and Honeywell plan to revolutionize the flight deck, with an advanced version of Honeywell’s Primus Epic avionics system. Honeywell Primus Epic avionics are currently standard equipment on leading business and regional jet platforms, and in service on nearly 5,000 aircraft in 20 different models. Primus Epic has accrued 30 million-plus flight hours. In addition, Honeywell mission processors, displays, sensors, radio altimeters, radar, and flight control systems have been enabling thousands of supersonic military jets for decades.

Two Safran companies have already joined the project to support the AS2. Safran Landing Systems will design the complete braking and landing gear system, from main and nose landing gears, to wheels and brakes, including extension / retraction, monitoring and steering systems, at their engineering centers in Canada and France. Safran Nacelles will design the AS2 nacelles, including the engines’ inlets, fan cowl doors and thrust reverser in France.

GKN Aerospace will design the empennage and the electrical wiring and interconnection systems (EWIS) for the AS2. Design activities have already started on-site at Aerion in Reno, Nevada and in GKN Aerospace’s engineering centers in the Netherlands and Romania. GKN Aerospace is a leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier company, specializing in developing, building and supplying an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies.

Aernnova, a leading aerostructures company specialized in the design and manufacturing of aerostructures and components such as wings, empennages and fuselage sections, will support the design of the mid-fuselage of the AS2. The 12 passenger business jet, and first-ever privately built supersonic commercial aircraft, is scheduled to begin flight testing in 2024.

Potez Aéronautique is a world-class manufacturer of complex aerostructure assemblies and one of the leading specialists in Design and Build work packages for aircraft doors.