AoC number

6

Primary domain

T

Secondary domain

OP

Description

Technical feasibility, environmental, regulatory and certification studies for Supersonic Business Jets (SBJ) and follow-on projects may result in product launch decisions by aircraft manufacturers and airline partners.

A supersonic business jet (SSBJ) would be a small business jet, intended to travel at speeds above Mach 1.0. Typically intended to transport about ten passengers, SSBJs are about the same size as traditional subsonic business jets. Larger commercial supersonic transports such as the Aérospatiale, British Aerospace Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144 ‘Charger’ had relatively high costs, and high noise, high fuel consumption and some environmental concerns.

Several manufacturers believe that many of these concerns can be dealt with at a smaller scale. In addition, it is believed that small groups of high-value passengers (such as executives or heads of state) will find value in higher speed transport. No SSBJs are currently available, but several manufacturers are working on or have worked on designs, including but not limited to:

  • Aerion SBJ
  • HyperMach SonicStar
  • SAI Quiet Supersonic Transport
  • Next Generation Supersonic Transport
  • Sukhoi-Gulfstream S-21
  • Tupolev Tu-444

Potential hazard

  1. Exposure of passengers and flight crew to significant radiation levels due to high altitude flight
  2. Explosive decompression at high altitude
  3. Mixed traffic in terminal environment

Corroborating sources and comments

Last update

Unknown