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vested into our airfield over the last few years, our new runways and air traffic control tower are ready to support this revolution in supersonic flight. Aerion is a special part of our Space Coast community’s future and we are eager to see the path forward as we welcome the fine talent that will be joining our thriving aerospace campus at MLB.” Just as the AS2 seeks to deliver carbon neutral flight, the home in which it will be created aims to be the most environmentally sustainable of its kind in the aerospace sector. Aerion Park is planned to be powered by clean energy – using the very latest in photovoltaic solar technology to generate energy for manufacturing. On-site electric vehicle charging stations will also be installed and rainwater that lands on the campus reused.
Recycled materials will be used in the construction of Aerion Park wherever possible, sourced locally to minimize emissions and the Park will be dedicated to creating zero waste. The campus will incorporate buildings spanning some two million sq. ft, including a vast aircraft assembly facility which is the equivalent size of fourteen football fields, plus a systems integration laboratory which will house the AS2 ‘Iron Bird’. Also included on the site will be engineering flight test headquarters. The facility will enable flight crews, mechanics and support personnel to fly AS2 aircraft in the certification flight test program as well as conduct serial production testing prior to customer delivery. Aerion intends to flight test the AS2 from the site, in the surrounding
airspace, in supersonic testing corridors as well as at additional off-site locations. “Aerion is an exciting place, fueled by entrepreneurs, creators and innovators,” adds Tom Vice. “We are building more than the airplane of tomorrow – we are building the global transportation networks of the future and we will seek the smartest, most creative and collaborative minds to join our team and our journey to tackle the toughest mobility challenges of the future.” Aerion has already opened a temporary office location on the Orlando Melbourne International Airport campus to house a growing Florida-based employment base, while major construction work at Aerion Park will begin in 2021 ahead of the first AS2 aircraft flight
SUPERSONIC PASSENGER TRAVEL The Concorde proved supersonic passenger travel viable but its disappearance from the skies was a step back for aviation. New startups are attempting to remedy this with the next-generation of aircraft. The Aerion AS2 will boast a subsonic range of 5,400 nautical miles, comparable to a Gulfstream G500, and a supersonic range of 4,200 nautical miles. Flying from New York to London will only take four hours while flying to Sydney will take less than 14 hours, though the latter will still require a fuel stop. Local residents won't have to worry about their local airport turning into the next noisy international hub. The AS2 will use what's known as "boomless cruise," which means the jet can fly above the speed of sound and the dreaded supersonic boom won't reach the ground. When flying subsonic, the jet's top speed will be Mach .95, faster than the Cessna Citation X that tops out at Mach .935. page 57