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Since opening the order book at the Dubai Air Show just a few weeks ago, Aerion announced it has secured Letters of Intent for its Supersonic Business from customers in key markets including Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the USA. These commitments already exceed more than $1.5 billion dollars, based on a per aircraft price tag of $80 million.
Speaking in London, Aerion Vice Chairman Brian Barents said: “Considering our marketing effort has barely begun, this is a tremendous validation of the aircraft’s appeal.”
Aerion elected to begin taking orders in November because of strong customer interest and advancing discussions with potential OEM partners. The company expects to recruit an OEM manufacturing partner by 2008 which would lead to certification and service entry by 2014.
Hosting Aerion in London, ExecuJet CEO Niall Olver said: “We are well placed to help identify future prospects for this exciting supersonic jet, drawing on our geographical reach and broad client base, which embraces a 100 strong business aircraft fleet. Based on the homework we did prior to entering into this agreement with Aerion, we are not surprised at the number of people coming forward. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
On behalf of Aerion, ExecuJet is now offering 40 early delivery positions to customers for a per-aircraft launch price of US$80 million in 2007 dollars. The positions will be secured by initial deposits of $250,000.
The Aerion supersonic business jet was formally unveiled in October 2004. Since then, wind tunnel and other tests have taken the aircraft to an advanced stage of design.
The Aerion jet is designed to cruise at speeds up to 1.15 Mach overland without producing a boom on the ground, and at speeds up to 1.6 Mach in other areas. Over the continental U.S., where regulations require speeds below Mach 1, the aircraft can cruise efficiently just below the speed of sound, offering economies comparable to today’s large business jets. The aircraft seats eight to 12 passengers in stand-up comfort and has a range in excess of 4,000 nautical miles.
Aerion Corporation of Reno, Nevada is an advanced engineering group formed in 2002 to reintroduce commercial supersonic flight. Aerion continues research begun more than 15 years ago, with the current focus on the design of a practical and efficient supersonic business jet employing patented natural laminar flow technology.
Aerion’s board includes: Robert M. Bass, chairman of Aerion and president of investment group Keystone, Inc; Brian E. Barents, vice chairman of Aerion and former president and CEO of Galaxy Aerospace and Learjet; Dr. Richard R. Tracy, who has pioneered the supersonic natural laminar wing concept and serves as Aerion’s chief technology officer; Michael L. Henderson, COO of Aerion and Boeing’s former program manager for high-speed civil transport; and Robert L. Morse Jr., a principal of Oak Hill Capital Management, Inc.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
