Russia, Mubadala said to discuss supersonic plane production
Russia's Ministry of Industry says the country can design a supersonic business jet in 7-8 years
Tupolev Tu-160 missile carrier bomber is the largest supersonic aircraft. Russian specialists have started research work on the supersonic passenger jet.
UAE-based Mubadala has discussed a supersonic jet project with the Russia’s ministry of industry, according to Russian media reports.
“Today, we’ve covered a topic connected to development and production of a supersonic aircraft. It is a project of multi-format, multi-lateral cooperation,” Minister of Industry Denis Manturov was quoted as saying Russia’s
TASS news agency.
“We may do that with the Emirates, with Saudi Arabia and possibly other countries that express interest,” he added. “Our colleagues were interested in that, taking into account the fact that they already invested in our aviation industry and in Russian helicopters in particular.
According to TASS, Russia’s Ministry of Industry has said it can design a supersonic business jet in seven or eight years, based on a market demand of 20 to 30 aircraft priced at between $100 and $120 million each.
Mubalada has been contacted for comment.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/pol...la-discuss-hypersonic-plane-production-report
Obviously not a "green technology" play. OTOH, would be a great "consumer" of fossil fuels promoted by two countries who live and die by the sale of dead dinosaur compost.
Billionaire Bass's supersonic jet dream wins Boeing backing
The first flight for the plane - which, at about 1,000 miles per hour, will cruise 70 percent faster than today's quickest business jets - is scheduled for 2023
Aerion’s AS2 aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound while meeting noise and emissions rules.
Boeing is joining with Aerion, a startup founded by Texas billionaire Robert Bass, to help build a supersonic business jet that would cut trans-Atlantic flight times by three hours.
The US aerospace giant will make a “significant investment” in Aerion to accelerate design and development, according to a statement Tuesday. Boeing will replace Lockheed Martin Corp, which had announced a partnership with Aerion in 2017, a spokesman for the supersonic-jet company said.
Boeing’s funding buoys Bass’s dream of restoring supersonic civilian flight, which ended in 2003 with the final voyage of Europe’s Concorde amid noise restrictions and high operating costs. General Electric Co. in October said it completed an initial engine design for Aerion’s AS2 aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound while meeting noise and emissions rules.
“We have the right team to build the future of sustainable supersonic flight,” said Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing’s NeXt investment unit, citing Aerion’s supersonic expertise and his company’s scale and commercial-aviation experience.
First flight
Boeing said it would provide engineering, manufacturing and flight-test resources to bring the AS2 to market. While the amount of its investment wasn’t disclosed, Boeing gained two seats on Aerion’s five-person board to represent its interests.
The new directors are Mike Sinnett, who heads product strategy and future airplane development for Boeing’s commercial business; and Ken Shaw, who oversees the supply chain for the company’s new global-services division.
News of the investment helped propel Boeing shares to a record. The stock climbed 3.3 percent to $410.18 at the close in New York, the largest gain on the 30-member Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The first flight for the plane - which, at about 1,000 miles per hour, will cruise 70 percent faster than today’s quickest business jets - is scheduled for 2023. Launch customer Flexjet, which sells fractional ownership in aircraft, has ordered 20 of the models. Aerion’s 12-passenger model has a list price of $120 million.
Flexjet is considering adding more aircraft to its order, Chairman Kenn Ricci said by telephone. The specifications of the aircraft have improved, making the AS2 more versatile and a better fit with Flexjet’s model of giving multiple customers access to fly in the plane, Ricci said without providing details.
“We see it as a spectacular, unique product,” Ricci said. “We’re very happy with the position we’re in. I think this leadership team is spectacular.”
The investment is a reminder of Boeing’s roots in aircraft that travel well beyond the sound barrier. The Chicago-based manufacturer invested heavily in its own supersonic-transport program a half-century ago -- the 747 jumbo jet was considered a side project to the so-called SST at the time -- before the U.S. government ultimately canceled funding.
Boeing also is plowing funding into hypersonic aircraft that would travel faster than Mach 5, or more than five times the speed of sound. The company last year revealed development of a passenger prototype capable of cruising at 3,800 mph or more.
The company’s HorizonX venture capital arm also has invested in Reaction Engines, a U.K. company developing a propulsion system for both hypersonic flights and space voyages at Mach 25.
Boeing is the first planemaker to commit funds as well as engineering and manufacturing expertise to Aerion. Airbus SE joined as a partner in 2014 to help with design and possibly manufacturing, then was replaced by Lockheed three years later. Neither of those companies invested directly in the venture.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/tra...asss-supersonic-jet-dream-wins-boeing-backing
Well..
This program has already tested by u.s and europe and is not feasible as fuel consumption is more and maintenance costs are high as well as such airplanes are not comfortable for passengers due to their narrow shape required for supersonic speeds as happened with concord.
Just STFU..
Strong Gulf interest for supersonic airliner - Boom CEO
Boom Technology CEO Blake Scholl says the company is currently in talks with 20 carriers around the world
There is “broad interest” for Boom Technology’s supersonic airliner in the Middle East, CEO Blake Scholl said on Monday.
Speaking to journalists at the Dubai Airshow, Scholl said that about 10 percent of the approximately 500 supersonic routes that are economically viable will originate in the Arabian Gulf region.
“The Middle East is ideally positioned as a connecting hub between Australia, Asia and Europe, and many of those routes could connect right here,” he added.
Although he declined to give specifics, Scholl noted that Boom is currently in discussions with 20 airlines around the world, with “broad interest” from regional carriers.
The first test flight of Boom’s XB1 aircraft - dubbed the “baby boom” is scheduled to take place in late 2018. Boom’s 55-seat supersonic airliner is expected to take flight in 2023.
According to the company, the aircraft will fly as much as 2.6 times faster than conventional passenger aircraft and 10 percent faster than the now defunct Concorde, meaning that the eight hour flight between Dubai and London could be cut down to approximately four hours and 30 minutes.
Already, five carriers have placed pre-orders for 76 of Boom’s passenger aircraft. Only one of the airlines, Virgin Atlantic, has publicly identified itself, with Sir Richard Branson confirming that the carrier holds options for 10 aircraft.
On Monday, Scholl also announced that it had begun the process of site selection for Boom’s production manufacturing facility.
“Looking at the first 10 years of the program, we see a need for 1,000 to 2,000 of our aircraft, which means we’ll need a manufacturing site that can build at least 100 units a year,” he said.
Although Boom is still “early” in the selection process, Scholl said the company will be looking at sites of between 250,000 and 750,000 square feet.
“Our criteria include transportation and logistics, labour availability, utilities, taxes, real estate and regulatory environment,” he noted, added that the selection process is expected to take between six to nine months, followed by a one or two year construction process.
An official RFP (request for proposal) will be announced in Q1 2018, and Boom has engaged real estate firm JLL for support on researching and validating potential sites.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/ind...ulf-interest-for-supersonic-airliner-boom-ceo
